Paralympian Dani Calls Shriners Children's a Place Where Miracles Happen

Dani knows how important it is to see people with disabilities accomplish incredible things.

Growing up in Boise, Idaho, she wasn’t exposed to many kids who had a limb difference, like she did. Going to Shriners Children’s when she was 6 months old was a pivotal moment, leading to a lifelong association. “When I went to Shriners Children’s as a kid,” said Dani, “and participated in their therapeutic play group program, I saw other people who were missing limbs, and as a toddler, I think that’s important.”

The therapeutic play groups facilitate social activities incorporating therapeutic goals for kids with similar disabilities. The goal is often to allow the children to feel successful and supported. “It was especially significant for my mom,” said Dani, who noticed how important it was for her mother to be able to connect with other parents of children with limb differences.

As Dani grew, Shriners Children’s continued to support her development by providing prostheses that helped her play certain sports like riding a bike, fishing and horseback riding. “The prostheses helped me be more comfortable with my difference and allowed me to be in public without people staring.”