I can't think of a better gift today than beginning our service dog adventure. We fly to Atlanta this morning and I awoke feeling filled with gratitude. Our friends and family have been so supportive and are sharing in our excitement.
Make no mistake about it, there are few to no perks in having epilepsy but we avail ourselves of every one we are told about. We didn't know there were service dogs for people with epilepsy until just a few years ago (and immediately got on the waiting list). The dog's potential with Cesare is huge, but if she or he only served as a companion it would be gift enough. Though, Cesare's nurse at school- Michelle- is pretty sure the dog will be a "chick magnet". I don't think he'd know what to do with that!
We've flown several times since Cesare's diagnosis 8 years ago. Accommodations when flying, I also didn't know about until a few years ago. (Wish there was a handbook about these things for you when your child is diagnosed). Cesare and we get whisked through the airport in a wheelchair- for us this is so that he isn't standing forever on line and so that if he has a seizure we don't have to scrape him up from the floor). They escort us to the gate pretty quickly. We almost always call ahead for this service, but there have been times- even at busy airports that we just tell them upon arrival that we need a wheelchair. We don't need to submit any documentation; airlines have been very accommodating.
Once at the gate, we ask for bulk head seating in case of an emergency and I have to get Cesare on the floor to administer the dreaded rectal Valium... the evil scourge of any self respecting 14 year old. If none is available, airlines have bumped us up to "extra leg room" seating.
Wish us luck. I'm not a happy flyer. I only ask that the plane does not fall down.
More when we start our training tomorrow.
