TEMPLE, Texas (KWTX) – Parents of a child with Emmanuel syndrome are collecting donations for their child’s specialized physical therapy after they say Medicaid has dropped coverage.

This is the second annual trunk or treat hosted by Todd and Deanna Kavanaugh. They began hosting events to reward the Temple community for the kindness they showed Kavanaugh’s son on his birthday during the pandemic. The Kavanaughs saw a surge of birthday cards for their son, Austin Kavanaugh, in 2020.

Austin suffers from Emmanuel Syndrome which left him unable to walk his entire life.

“We were told he wouldn’t do certain things,” Todd said. “Walking was part of it.”

In October 2023, Austin takes his first steps.

“We have a saying for him,” Todd said. “It’s ‘He can and he will.’ And we support that.

Austin’s family attributed his ability to walk to hippotherapy. It is a type of specialized physiotherapy that uses a horse’s movement to stimulate its rider’s muscles.

Austin’s mother said with Medicaid no longer covering hippotherapy, their son’s treatment was in jeopardy.

“It’s quite overwhelming because we know how much he loves it and how much he needs it,” Deanna said. “It’s really hard to take something away from a child, especially a child with special needs who depends on this therapy.”

Austin’s parents said they have been touched by the support their family has received from the Temple community.

“It’s overwhelming, the work we’ve put into it,” Todd said. “And to have the support that we have from all the different vehicles that are here, it makes me feel good.” It’s an incredible feeling.

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