The Givers

We have Milkbone and Sam's Club to thank for Cesare's dog.  Canine Assistants has generous donors that gift us our new miracle dog but also fly us to Atlanta and give us room and board for two weeks of doggy training school.  Cesare was asked to appear at a corporate presentation at Sam's Club a few weeks ago.  There, Tom and Ces got to meet a local family with an adult daughter with epilepsy who was gifted a dog a few months ago.  Devin, loyal and protective of their daughter, brings her dad his baseball hat when she is seizing.  The couple came to the event with Devin (their daughter was working) and Cesare got his first look at a seizure dog.  He bonded instantly.  Here are some pics of that day.  Very handsome... the dog is cute too. 

The Munificent Twin

This post is all about Griffin.  Griffin should have his own blog.  I think he has his own five stages of epilepsy.  I'll bet they would be:

1. Fear

2. Fear

3. Yelling for help.

4. Good excuse to miss miles of school days.

5. Doesn't get a service dog.

I frequently tell my kids, when they think I am: overbearing, grouchy, strict, pigheaded, etc that they picked me, not the other way around.  I think Griff picked Ces and Ces picked Griff.  There is no other explanation for the perfect simpatico between these brothers.  Griffin is a gift, very simply.  He hasn't grown into a loving supportive young man, he was born that way.  Right from the beginning.  I have heard that twins have their own language.  Griffin and Cesare communicate without speaking.   Our boys' first grade teacher, Kathy Weiss, told me that I didn't have to worry about Cesare.  She told me that Griffin would bring the world home to him.  Griff's done that, but also held Cesare's hand when he was ready to venture out into it. 

Griff has been an enthusiastic one man cheerleading squad for Ces and his anticipated canine assistant.  There's nothing in it for Griff.  But he never, ever complains. 

Griff and I have a plan to adopt a rescued greyhound in the fall.  (Once you have one potential carpet-pee-er, what's the difference).  We have plans to train our rescued beauty to be a therapy dog.  I can't imagine a more perfect calling for Griff.  Blog to follow!

I love you Griffin.

The Five Stages of Epilepsy

1. Anger
2. Denial/Shopping
3. Brain Surgery(s)
4. IVIG (once a month, eight hour IV- memorable)
5. Super Seizure Dog

Waiting, waiting, waiting.

Three years and five months. That's a long wait. We're down to six days now. We fly to Atlanta on Sunday to meet, and train with Cesare's new buddy. Canine Assistants is our generous host. They now anticipate a five year wait list for new applicants for a service dog. By that measure we're tremendously lucky.

The question Ces is asked most often is "Will it already have a name?" Yes, he or she will already be named. The pups start their training at birth, and have all grown into their names now, at a year and a half. I urge anyone reading about Ces' adventure to click on the link at the bottom of this page for Canine Assistants. On it there is a link to the PBS special about the selection and training process for service dogs. There is a link there, too, that will allow you to donate whatever you can to this family run organization. If you can help shorten another child's wait, they would be very grateful.

We wonder, too, what will this miracle dog do for Ces? There are lots of skills posted on their site. But I think the most important thing that he or she can do is give Cesare the independence he deserves.

Cesare and I will keep you posted over the next couple of weeks. We'll post pics and videos of the process. We're told that the dogs pick their owners. (Sure hope it's not like a middle school dance and we get passed over.) So, here's hoping Cesare has just the right scent.

Six days to Independence Day!