Cowboy Moshe, Overcoming Odds and Giving Back

 Moshe just after arriving at his new home   

Moshe, 2nd day at home

December 1, 2002. A little boy, not quite a year old, finds himself in a new home. Linda, his new mom, bathed him and then rocked him all night that first night. He looked frightened and wary. 

Moshe was born prematurely to a birth mother who used drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. He, in turn, absorbed those same poisons in his mother’s womb. He was diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome in 2005. He’s been diagnosed as “mildly intellectually retarded.”

 “I was not sure that Moshe would walk or talk but I did everything I could to help him . . .  “ She has two other children. All are adopted, and all have special needs.

Moshe, cowboy at heart

Today Moshe is “my sports/gadget/techie kid.” He’s good at math, though he needs to improve in reading to be at grade level. Moshe loves sports despite his medical challenges. He’s also his mom’s “natural born cowboy,” who loves his therapy horse, Ace, at McKenna Farms. He hopes to be part of the farm’s Equestrian Special Olympics team.

Moshe, riding Ace 

With three children who need therapy and who have multiple physical impairments that require medical attention frequently, Linda cannot afford the cost of therapeutic riding, though it means so much to Moshe. So Jacob’s Fund has begun covering the cost for Moshe’s sessions.

Though funds are limited, Linda and Moshe have found a way to give back. They’re now volunteers at McKenna Farms, cleaning out horse stalls. While it’s not the most glamorous volunteer activity, the extra time at the farm gives Moshe an opportunity to spend more time with the horses he loves.

We talked with Moshe’s mom this week. This is what she had to say:

“Thank you for your support. I greatly appreciate that Moshe has been given this opportunity of a lifetime which will shape his life. Thank you.”

We hope Moshe’s victories warm your heart as much as they do ours here at Jacob’s Fund. Next Tuesday, November 27, is Giving Tuesday on Facebook; We will create a fundraiser that day to help cover the costs of Moshe’s therapeutic riding, as well as hippotherapy and therapeutic riding for the eleven other children Jacob’s Fund is currently supporting . It takes only a few seconds to make a donation on our Facebook Page - Jacob Beachy Fund – using the Donate button. Your donation makes a life-changing difference for children. We hope you'll donate next Tuesday.