Canine Partners

When I was in Year 10 of secondary school, not long before my 15th birthday, I realised that I wasn’t feeling very well. I had been very tired and my body had not felt as it used to. My mum took me to the doctors and they said that I probably had a mild virus and a lot of exam stress. I’m a high achiever – I was studying three different languages at GCSE while participating in the Duke of Edinburgh award, playing rugby and occasionally netball and rounders.

Since the age of two my goal was to become a veterinarian and serve in the army and I was on track academically and physically to achieve this. However, it was in the spring of Year 10 that everything started to become problematical with my health. I was practicing hurdles and felt something go wrong in my hips and from here it all went downhill very swiftly. By that autumn, I was bedbound, unable to do anything except feed myself with one hand and a plastic spoon. I couldn’t even take my beloved dog, a working cocker spaniel which I had raised from a puppy, out for a walk. The doctors still believed that this was exam stress as I was entering the year where I should have been sitting my GCSEs.

Despite this, and with only a few hours tutoring provided from school, I managed to gain five A-C grades at GCSE. I had been in intensive rehabilitation so by the time I was 18 I had some more movement however I was still heavily dependent on my parents for care. I started to be able to take my dog out for walks in our local park but I soon stopped due to one incident that affected me quite dramatically. I dropped my phone while walking my dog and a group of teenage boys picked it up and taunted me with it, saying many things which were offensive and inappropriate, mostly about my disability. After that I stopped going out unless I had someone with me. I managed to get in to a college to do A Levels and while I was there I found out that I have hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. This is a hereditary connective tissue disorder which means there’s a problem with my collagen. The easiest way to describe it is my collagen is like over chewed chewing gum, super stretchy and bends in all ways.

My mum had brought up the subject of an assistance dog a few times but I dismissed it as I didn’t think I was disabled enough. But after meeting an established partnership at Crufts in Birmingham I decided to apply to Canine Partners. The lady I met explained what her canine partner did and what a dog could do for me. I didn’t feel that I was worthy or disabled enough for a dog but the lady helped me realise that I was and that a dog could be an amazing thing.

When I went for my onsite training, I was so nervous. I wanted to do everything right and was thankful for my previous experience with dogs. I had so much fun and there are moments that I’ll remember for the rest of my life although it was also very tiring. The support I received during the course was incredible and we still feel much supported by the advanced trainers and aftercare staff.

It’s incredibly hard being a teenager and young adult with a disability, especially when you have to adapt to a different type of normal. I had to rely on my parents for everything at a time when I should have been moving away which was difficult and felt wrong. Having Lindy at my side this feeling has eased as she gives me independence in ways I never imagined possible. I can never repay the charity for what they have given to me.

Lindy has changed my life in ways that I couldn’t possibly have imagined. She can get help if I’ve fallen but it’s the small everyday tasks that have made the difference. One of the tasks that she does is picking up my mobile phone – I’m always dropping it and I can drop it when I’m handed it (repeatedly). My parents found this annoying and after hundredth time they would sigh and tut but Lindy loves it and sees it as a game even when I drop it again and again and again. This has also lead to me taking her out for walks by myself as I know she’s there and will be able to help me if needed – just knowing she is a hands width away makes me feel confident. I can just touch her lead when I am feeling stressed or unwell and knowing she is there beside me calms me. My family feel like they don’t have to worry about me anymore which makes me feel like less of a burden.

Lindy loves to go out and help get the shopping but her favourite part is when we get home and she can unpack the shopping. If for some reason, Mum leaves a bag around with shopping in it Lindy decides it is not appropriate and unloads it for her, bringing the items one by one to me. I then send her to Mum with the items and she is so appreciative of Lindy’s help! Lindy also loves to help take off my shoes and socks after we have been out – she considers it to be her job and automatically starts to do it now. If I decide to wear only socks around the house, I’ll look up and Lindy will be standing at my feet with her mouth touching my toes waiting for when she can take them off. Lindy can get help if I’ve fallen and she will then lie down beside me which is an enormous comfort. The next task I want to train her to do is to get a bottle of water from the fridge for me.

One of Lindy’s tasks is to take my cardigans, jackets and coats off. Since Lindy has been doing this my shoulder subluxations and dislocations have gone down by about seventy percent which is incredible as this has meant less pain for me.

With Lindy by my side I have been able to go out by myself again, we go to the local shops and park and are well known at the pub! The freedom she has given me is unexplainable, I’ll never get my old life back but I wouldn’t want to – she’s giving me a whole new life.

Lindy is my best friend, she has unwavering loyalty and is helping me pick up the pieces of my life and create a new one. Without her I feel as if a piece of me is missing. Lindy is a missing part of my soul and is helping me heal. I feel like I can do anything with Lindy by my side and I would do anything for her. She has been my life saver. She is my confidante and forever companion.”