My daughter Dashs is a caring, smart, out-going 6 year old who also has cerebral palsy and had a benign brain tumor removed when she was 2 years old.  As her family, we know her as the life of the party who loves to start wrestling matches with her brother and sister, play jump down the stairs game, or spend hours playing in our nearby creek.  As she has gotten older, we have noticed that many children her age don’t have the patience to get to know the beautiful human being that Dasha is.  Her speech is difficult to understand.  She walks a little differently.  Most six year olds have a hard time looking past these things. 

Being veterinarians, we are very familiar with the amazing contributions that animals can make to a person’s life.  As we became acclimated to the world of having a special needs child, we immediately saw the potential benefit of getting Dasha a service dog.  As her motor skills have improved, we realized that a full assistance dog wouldn’t be necessary for her since she can walk, run, pick things up, open doors, etc.  What Dasha DOES need is an ice-breaker with other children.  She needs to be given the chance for other kids to get to know her.  We know that if the children Dasha’s age take the time to get to know her, they will love her amazing spirit as much as we do.

This is where Kiono (or as our youngest daughter calls him, Piano) comes in.  Kiono is a calm, focused, eager to please 1 year old labradoodle who was rescued from horrible conditions on Dasha’s 6th birthday, March 26th.  He breezed through CAP’s basic obedience program at the prison and amazed everyone with his drive to help people.  Now, Kiono is Dasha’s dog.  He has been to 4th of July Fireworks, the Dayton Airshow, Girl Scout meetings, Cub Scout meetings, as well as countless trips around town and to the dog park.  Now, children are drawn to Dasha . . . they want to pet the doggie!  They also stick around a bit longer, allowing Dasha the opportunity to let her amazing personality shine!  They truly make a great team.

Dasha and her service dog, Kiono

Hi! My name is Austin. I developed a traumatic illness when I was 10 years old. I spent four weeks in a coma and then four months in rehab relearning how to walk, talk, read, write, drink, eat, basically everything all over again. It was a grueling process for me. As a result of the illness I was left with a complex seizure disorder, and traumatic brain injury. My care requirements are constant as well as at times very emergent.

I have days which I appear of perfect health and no one would know I have any medical issues. Then I have days where I seem regressed in age development, I have extremely low physical endurance with weakness to mostly one side, I have extremely low mental endurance with various processing issues, intermittent short and long term memory loss, low tolerance to loud noises and distractions, heat sensitivity, and various other issues with the most emergent being that I stop breathing during seizures and require immediate assistance.

My seizures occur both during the daytime and also at night while asleep. During the daytime I am never alone, must travel everywhere with oxygen, suction, and a BVM. At night I sleep with a monitor and at times low flow oxygen. I have an eating disorder which the doctors believe are due to the medication therapies. I now have a mic-key button placement and at times require supplemental feeds to enhance my nutrition.

Austin and his service dog, Connor

As you can imagine my illness has robbed me of dignity, quality of life, and privacy. These things would be important to most anyone, but to a now fourteen year old boy, they are vital!

This is where my best friend Connor comes in……………………Connor is a Golden Retriever believed to be about six or seven years old. Connor was rescued from an animal shelter where he had previously lived outside, emaciated on a chain. Not only is he a constant companion which alleviates: loneliness, depression, anxiety during Dr. appointments, clinical lab work, hospital trips, but he also gives my family some security in allowing me privacy to play in my room by myself, spend time in other areas of the house or yard on my own, as well as some privacy with personal hygiene.

While out in public, due to low physical endurance, I must be assisted with a wheelchair for lengthy excursions. I also wear a protection helmet due to my seizures. When I am having eating issues and need supplemental feeds I am attached to an infusion pump. This can become very embarrassing for me. Before I had Connor I rarely left the house. I didn’t want to run into my friends or deal with people staring at me and all of my medical equipment. Now that I have Connor people only see him. He takes the focus off of me and my illness.

Since my illness I have also lost the ability to spend as much time with my friends as I once did. Now that they are teenagers they are involved in High School, after school activities, sports, etc. On these days Connor makes up for it by playing outdoors with me, going on walks and hiking trips with me, camping, fishing…..in general any activity I want to do. On days when I am having a lot of seizures and if I am able to call out the word “seizure” Connor alerts for help by barking until someone finds me. When I am sick from medications, or bedridden due to effects of my seizures Connor is still by my side, offering his comfort and support.

Connor has also attended school with me which was a tremendous help.  Connor has helped to bring back dignity, quality of life and privacy for me. He has also helped to give my family some security in my overall good health and wellbeing.

Connor is my guardian angel!!!

CAP Humans and Canines

John and his service dog, Caesar