We have already been to Curacao twice for dolphin therapy and each time we have seen wonderful progress in Shirley. For others, these may seem like tiny changes, but for Shirley and for us, they are always incredibly exciting and important steps in her development. That's why, it was so important to us that we were able to give Shirley this wonderful therapy again. This therapy is perfect for Shirley. Thanks to your help, we were able to do it, and believe me, when tears ran down my cheeks during the first therapy session, my thoughts were with you. I felt great happiness seeing my child “working” so happily and [it is with] infinite gratitude that I/we were able to experience all this.

Let's start with the report of our big therapy trip: We flew from Berlin to Amsterdam and then from Amsterdam to Curacao. We were traveling for many hours, but Shirley handled it all fantastically. Of course, we were exhausted and tired when we arrived at the hotel, but that didn't stop Shirley from being excited to see the hotel staff again. Shirley has an excellent memory. She recognizes places, and if she has fond memories of them, she gets very excited and vocal about it. That's how it was when we stood in front of our accommodation, the Dolphin Suites Hotel. We deliberately decided to arrive a few days before the start of therapy so that we – especially Shirley – could get used to the different climate and, above all, the time difference. We visited the CDTC in advance and Shirley was able to look around at her leisure. Well, “at her leisure”!? Shirley naturally had positive memories of the therapy center and was full of joy and excitement. When she spotted the first dolphins in the distance, her pretty eyes lit up even more. Shirley's therapy started at 8:00 a.m. Shirley's team included: therapist Kerstin (certified speech therapist), assistant Ally (psychology student), dolphin trainer Loes, and the dolphin Kanoa.

The team is not only highly qualified, but also sensationally motivating and positive. Just to Shirley's liking. So, it was a great pleasure for Shirley to embark on this special therapy and trust the team. Without hesitation, Shirley went into the therapy rooms and was always curious and interested. After working in the therapy rooms, the team took Shirley to the water, to the dock. Before that, Shirley got changed. She was put in a wetsuit and wore a life jacket or swimming belt. Shirley cannot get dressed or undressed on her own, so it was also part of the therapy that Shirley tried to help. Shirley was also able to help carry the therapy equipment and, for example, carried the fins to the dock. When Shirley was allowed into the water for the first time with her therapist, Kerstin, and was able to see and touch her therapy dolphin, Kanoa, up close, it was a fascinating and very emotional moment for everyone involved. The therapy focused on promoting communication and independence, but also on social behavior and sensory perception. As already mentioned, Shirley interacts little or not at all with her environment. In therapy, the dolphin is a motivator and reward for specific behavior.

Shirley quickly noticed that the dolphin did something nice when Shirley interacted with him and the therapist. As a reward, the dolphins received small fish, which Shirley was also allowed to give to Kanoa. Shirley also worked in the fish kitchen and was allowed to fill Kanoa's mobile fish freezer with fish. She did this with great joy. Kanoa, the big gentle creature, not only provided fun, but also peace and relaxation. Shirley is generally a rather restless child. She finds it difficult to wait, sit still, and concentrate on one thing. Kanoa managed to help Shirley become more focused, pause for a moment, and simply enjoy herself. For example, she placed her hand on Kanoa's back or belly, very calmly, carefully, and persistently.

As already mentioned, Shirley has a speech disorder. She communicates exclusively non-verbally. When Shirley suddenly started saying isolated words during our stay in Curacao, we couldn't believe our luck. She didn't speak in sentences, but every now and then, she said different words, and these were very clear and distinct. So wonderful! Before the therapy, we were told, “This therapy can't work miracles.” But what else can you call it? For us, real miracles happen there! The accompanying persons, in this case me as her mother and my best friend – Shirley's bonus aunt, so to speak – were of course not neglected during the entire therapy period. We talked a lot about the great goals that were achieved during the therapy, but also about difficult issues that burden us in everyday life. We were given valuable tips and advice. The CDTC team made sure that we could fly home with a lot of courage, hope, and a new zest for life. Since the therapy, Shirley has been much more approachable and focused. She is now able to accomplish challenging tasks and takes great pleasure in her success. Shirley vocalizes much more than before, she can name her cuddly toy and tries to be more patient. The complex therapy continues to have an effect some time after the session and we are very excited to see if and what progress will follow. In any case, we recently received information from Shirley's school that she is thriving there and is also much more patient. It is such a shame that this form of therapy receives so little recognition and support. I have never seen my daughter experience so much joy and enthusiasm with any other therapy she has ever received or is receiving. Yes, dolphin therapy is also exhausting and Shirley had to rest for a few hours afterwards, but the joy, motivation, and above all the positive changes during and after this therapy are unique.

Now we have reached the end of our report, and I would like to say something that is very important to me personally. When we made the decision to try everything we could to enable Shirley to have dolphin therapy again, we naturally did not encounter only positive opinions. We also faced considerable opposition, critical comments, and questions. “It's so expensive!” “Such a long flight!” “Can't you do ‘something like that’ somewhere else?” “Closer?” “Cheaper?” “Can't Shirley just go horseback riding or do another speech therapy session?” "The poor dolphins, isn't that cruelty to animals?"... and much more. We made a conscious decision to return to the therapy center in Curacao, firstly because we have not seen such progress with Shirley in any other therapy/rehabilitation program (we have described this in detail above), and secondly, and this is also an incredibly important point that should never be overlooked, because the dolphins there are really well cared for. Yes, they can only use a part of the infinite sea because they are in a confined area, but animal welfare is the top priority there. The dolphins are in their natural habitat, are lovingly cared for, and special medical care is always guaranteed and provided with care when needed. Every day, the first thing they do is check on the animals and meticulously ensure that these wonderful creatures also have their “me time.” Considering animal welfare alone, we would never consider any other option (closer/cheaper). Yes, it is important to us that our Shirley learns and makes progress, but not at any price! We love animals so much, and if the wonderful creatures there were not doing well, we could never reconcile such therapy with our conscience.

We thank everyone who has supported us from the bottom of our hearts, and we will never forget it!

”READ-LESS”

Dolphin therapy mainly aims at helping children, but adults are more than welcome as well. I wasn’t sure if the CDTC could help me, a 37-year-old woman, but I decided to contact them anyhow. Together with my GP and physical therapist I filled out all the essential forms. I truly hoped that my medical history would allow me to obtain a therapy spot. It all worked out!

I traveled to Curaçao, together with my parents, to follow the dolphin assisted therapy program. What truly surprised me was the enormous dedication and commitment of the entire team. Therapists, interns, dolphin trainers; everyone did his or her utmost to help me feel at home. On the first day I had an anamnesis talk with my assigned therapist to introduce myself and to discuss my medical history and my desired therapy goals. A tailor-made personal therapy schedule was set up based on my answers. Due to my physical disability I mainly experience tension and stiffness of my muscles and joints. Alongside of this I also have problems controlling my movements due to a vestibular issue. During therapy I learned to gain trust in myself and my body again and managed to relax more often. After half an hour of intensive exercises in the therapy room it was time to get ready for my hour of water time, this included putting on a wetsuit and swim belt. Instructed by my therapist, I drove in my electric wheelchair to the lagoon where my dolphin Chabelita and her trainer were waiting for me. After a necessary briefing I got to meet Chabelita. This went very smooth. She was sweet, playful, happy and very curious to her surroundings. It was a great pleasure to be able to work together with her ten days in a row.

Exercises which we did in the therapy room were repeated on a dock located in the lagoon. Step by step I started noticing small improvements which in turn had positive effects on my self-esteem. Swimming with Chabelita and being able to feel her presence while interacting with her, made me feel confident in all what was yet still to come. My hard work was rewarded daily by being allowed to swim, play games and do tricks together with Chabelita or swim relaxing rounds with her. Showering, drying myself off and getting dressed were also considered part of therapy. There the focus was put on improving my independence. By evaluating my therapy with my therapist, my training schedule could be changed and adapted daily. Every step was made in consultation with my therapist and was adapted according to my own wishes. Due to it being a therapy setting the words ‘patient’ and ‘therapist’ were used regularly, but I didn’t feel like a patient there at all. I felt very much at ease and had 10 days to work intensively on improving myself. Furthermore, the entire process took place in a private setting and under supervision of an expert, which gave my parents a good feeling as well. They could observe the therapy daily from a distance and got the chance to experience a dolphin swim themselves as well on the family swim weekend.

The sun, the warmth and the beautiful surrounding of course contributed to making my therapy experience a great success. All of it was documented by the photo video department. Thanks to them I now have great memories to look back on, both in images and in sound. Based on my own experience I can tell you that it doesn’t matter whether you are young or old; the CDTC is there for everyone!

”READ-LESS”