We've had Walden in our hotel room for two nights now. He has been obedient, calm and loving. The loving sure is the easy part for Cesare, but the training does not come spontaneously. Overwhelmed easily, Ces shuts down: too many directions coming from too many people. Keeping my mouth shut is a full time job. Along with the ample dog supplies we are given to get us through our week in the hotel with our canine, duct tape should be included. We caregivers here are all trying to let go and let things be. Right. Never going to happen.
Speaking of, there are some amazing caregivers here: the grandmom with failing health who has always cared for her quadriplegic granddaughter- alone, the parents of a fabulous young man who was felled by a car while riding his motorcycle and after twenty-seven surgeries will remain in a wheelchair, the young wife of a quiet man who surely is not the same man she married and who she lovingly (and patiently) leads by the arm, the parents of a 21 year old woman (also wheelchair bound) who has multiple medical concerns- unable to speak and on a vent she has matured to the size of an eight year old. This last family found their dream dog after mere minutes. The dog- allowing the young woman to probe and prod him while staying perfectly still- hasn't left her side since. My new friend Diane and I share the experience of having older children who are not confined by wheelchairs but bedeviled by invisible electricity. We had an outing to the mall today and among their peers, our two children seemed to stand out not appearing to need a service dog! The real action, of course is at night and it is silent and it can be terrifying.
Walden seems game for us to learn the kazillion commands we're supposed to learn. In the meantime I eagerly await the moment when he puts down his chew toy and says, "Oh, that's a seizure? Well why didn't you say so? Sure I'll go get help."
