Disabled Kids and Adults Suit Up to Water Ski - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Meghan McRoberts

OMAHA (KPTM)- 16 disabled children and adults were treated to a day on the lake for some outdoor fun Sunday.

The Alegent Health Immanuel Rehabilitation Center has planned the outing at Championship Lake Estates the last 4 years to give patients a fun form of therapy: Water skiing.

"It's like a rush pretty much, it's so much fun," said 12- year-old Hailey Bauer. She's tried her hand at water skiing 4 summers in a row. "I like being in the water, but at the same time you get to do something that you didn't think you could do," Bauer explained.

Bauer's mother Carrie Burton tags along to watch her daughter in action. "It's fun, the first time was emotional because you didn't think you were going to be able to see her do it, she was really excited."

Organizers say it's a way to get the skiers' minds off of their disabilities and forget about any limitations.

Jena Munson, a therapist at the Immanuel Rehabilitation center says patients race to their phones to get into the ski, with 2 side-skiers to keep the patient balanced and in control.

"It's done a little differently but still you're free, you're out there skiing just like everybody else."

But the side-skiers do let the patients do as much of the work as they can. "The skiers actually let go of [my son] and he was skiing by himself which was awesome. I mean, it brings tears to your eyes to sit there and watch him do that," said another mother, Karen Rotherham.