Canine Partners

My name is Aimee and I have Cerebral Palsy. It affects my mobility in my legs and the right side of body. I was born 11 weeks early at 29 weeks, weighing a tiny 2.11 lbs.

My disability is mainly physical but my life became very isolated and lonely. I went to college but found it incredibly hard. People ignored me and wouldn’t talk to me. As a result, I ended up with anxiety, depression, and on medication for a long time.

I felt as if no one could understand me and who I was. At college people would ask how I can do an A Level 3 course and I would say ‘I can because my mind still works, it’s my legs that don’t’. It was really tough and I found it incredibly hard to settle and be included.

I was lonely and didn’t feel like I had a life. I felt as if it wasn’t worth me being here, but since being partnered with Jordan my life has completely changed.

Jordan helps me with so many things on a day-to-day basis. He can open and close doors for me, he can help me unload the washing machine, and he even fetches my slippers. I can go out on my own now, so I take him to the park, to restaurants and the supermarket.

We went on holiday last year to Jersey with some other partners from Canine Partners, something I would never have done before I had Jordan. I have recently started a new voluntary job supporting people with drug and alcohol misuse. I am so grateful for Jordan as without him I wouldn’t be able to do this role and help others. He’s also very popular with all the staff and volunteers!

I’m a lot happier now, even though my pain is bad some days, I feel like I can cope because Jordan is part of my life and I have to get out of bed for him.

He’s given me a great deal of independence and a much better life in general. He’s also given a better life for my mum and dad, as I can go out and do things without them and they know that Jordan’s there to help me. They don’t have to worry as much and he has given me a purpose again. I’m really happy and positive now and I feel like my life has completely changed.

My dad was quite sceptical when I applied for a canine partner. He thought of Jordan as just a dog, but I told him it’s so much more than that, and over the last two years he’s seen how having Jordan by my side has changed everything for me. He has made my life so much easier, as well as so much happier.

I now have a voluntary role that I love and I would never have done it without Jordan by my side. I hope I can get a job and show people that you can work with a disability and manage independently, and to show people how much Jordan can help me. He doesn’t care if I’m in pain or can’t move very well, because he is happy to help me, because to him it is all about playing a game and having fun.

I love him so much, more than the world and I would do anything for him. Thank you so much to Canine Partners for everything, I can’t imagine life without him, at all!