Methodist Healthcare
September 19, 2019

SAN ANTONIO, TX  - Four children weren't limited by the boundaries of their wheelchair Thursday, thanks to the Methodist Children's Hospital Rehabilitation team. The hospital team, with the help of San Antonio Zoo staff, coordinated an interactive therapy session complete with rhinos and tortoises.

Most of the time, these children are unable to interact at the level of their peers during a fun outing such as a day at the zoo. The rehabilitation therapists set up a piece of equipment that allowed the children to stand and walk with the tortoises and even pet the rhinos!

"This gives them the opportunity to be upright with their peers, their siblings, and their family. They're able to do exactly what their sisters and brothers are doing," Tiffany Neal, Pediatric Physical Therapist said.

Neal says the outing turned a therapy session that can be difficult and tiring for the child into a fun and memorable experience.

"These kids come to therapy every single week and work so hard for the goal of walking, and this gives them the opportunity to tie that goal together for a recreational purpose," Neal said.

Methodist Children's Hospital hopes to provide more experiences like this one to even more of its patients in the near future.

Photos and Videos of the event

More families turn to Methodist Children's Hospital than any other children's hospital in San Antonio. Methodist Children's Hospital opened in 1998 as the first hospital in South Texas built from the ground up especially for children. Babies and children are transported via Methodist AirCare(tm) from throughout South Texas to receive a higher level of medical care not available in their own communities. The hospital has more than 400 physicians specializing in the care of children. The hospital has grown to become one of the leading U.S. hospitals providing bone marrow and stem cell transplants for children. Additional outstanding services include surgical services, orthopedics, oncology and several specialty clinics for children with chronic illnesses. Learn more about Methodist Children's Hospital.