Elisabeth Svendsen Trust

With National Transplant Week taking place from 4th – 11th July 2010, EST Manchester tells the story of three-year-old double transplant patient Zainab Naiz who benefits physically and emotionally from donkey riding therapy.

Zainab was born with liver disease and at the age of one had to undergo a life-saving liver transplant operation. She was lucky enough to receive a liver from a young donor but disaster struck when it stopped working 12 hours after the procedure. Her mum, Aliya watched helplessly as doctors entered into a race against time to find another liver and her tiny daughter was put on life support and dialysis as her kidneys began to fail. At the last minute, a liver was found from an older donor. This was not an ideal match but with time running out, Zainab’s doctors knew that any further delay would leave them unable to do the transplant.

Aliya says: “If Zainab hadn’t got that second liver, she probably wouldn’t be here today. I am really grateful to the donors and would love more people to think about becoming organ donors.”

Zainab began the slow road to recovery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, starting with two weeks of procedures to close the incision which had been made right across her stomach, leaving her muscles very weak. While looking for ways to help her daughter’s recovery, Aliya was recommended to contact The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST) which has a centre in Manchester. Zainab has been attending weekly sessions at the charity for the last year and a half, and the donkey riding activities that the centre offers have led to significant strengthening in Zainab’s stomach muscles and core stability.

The benefits of donkey riding therapy are not just physical, Zainab loves coming along to the centre particularly to see her favourite donkey, Toby. Before each visit, she tells everyone “going to donkeys, going to donkeys!” and then for days afterwards tells people about her donkey riding experience. It’s the highlight of her week. Aliya says: “Coming to EST has improved her confidence no end; when she was very ill we weren’t able to get out very often and Zainab was very nervous about meeting people because of her hospital treatments. She was worried about what people were going to do to her, but everybody is very kind here and she is learning to trust new people.”

EST donkey riding instructor, Rachel Randles, says: “I’ve been so pleased with the improvements in Zainab’s balance and coordination skills. She adores trotting and loves to do this without holding on to the front of the saddle which shows just how good her balance is! From when Zainab first started riding with us, we have watched as her levels of confidence and independence grow. She is full of smiles and giggles on the donkeys; she always brightens up our day with her outgoing personality and her love for the donkeys.”

Aliya says: “I didn’t know EST existed until a medical support worker suggested that Zainab would benefit from the donkey therapy. There is not enough awareness of the good work EST does, people need to be aware that it is here; I expect there are lots of other families like mine who could benefit from donkey riding therapy.”

Aliya finds her visits to EST a welcome break from the worry of constant hospital visits; the staff are very understanding of her and Zainab’s needs and she enjoys meeting other parents in a safe, friendly environment.

Zainab wears an intravenous tube for feeding and administering medicines and Aliya needs to remain vigilant of the threat that viruses pose to Zainab’s compromised immune system, but is thrilled with the improvements that donkey riding has made to her condition.