Amber and Hope Austwick were twin sisters born at 1 pound, 2 ounces. The sisters each suffered from bleeding lungs, but it was Amber who needed a tracheotomy.
The procedure saved her life but restricted air flow to her vocal cords. The result was that Amber was completely mute and unable to speak or even laugh.
When she was 3 years old, her parents, Julian and Tracy, heard about a donkey sanctuary where Amber could meet a few therapy animals.
It was here that Amber met Shocks, a rescue donkey, with which she would form a special bond. Tracy had a hard time seeing Amber meet Shocks for the first time. Amber was small and Shocks was so big.
“Shocks was in the arena and the riding instructor took little Amber to him, and I found it scary for me because Shocks was so much bigger than her,” Tracy told Caters. “But Amber wasn’t scared and Shocks was really excited to meet her and they’ve kept that bond ever since.”
After Amber spent time with him, Tracy was shocked to hear her daughter whisper to the donkey, “I love you.”
It was astonishing. Amber wasn’t ever supposed to be able to speak. Yet somehow, this creature had awakened something in her.
“It was such an emotional moment. I couldn’t believe my daughter had finally found her voice,” Tracy said. “Once she met Shocks, he brought her out of her shell, she’s a lot more confident with him and with friends at school, who she loves to talk to about him and the donkey sanctuary.”
Now that Amber is 6 years old, she is a chatterbox like any other kid, to the surprise of her parents and doctors. You’d never know that she began speaking a little later than most kids, all thanks to a special donkey.
Please Liked Video this story if you believe the bond between humans and animals can be life changing!
