Cutting the umbilical cord, and tying on a new one.

It is quite fully spring in Georgia.  Everything is in bloom.  About 30 miles north of Atlanta,  Alpharetta began as a bedroom community for Atlanta, but has become a community and thriving business center of it's own.  I can't get over the attention to detail here: the architecture, the cleanliness.  Everything is landscaped, even the medians on the roadways.  The Hilton, that has been gracious enough to house our eleven recipients, their families and their companion dogs is adorned with a flowering park in it's back yard.  Nice way to break us into the frequent walks we all must provide our new pawed friends.  And so, the umbilical cord to our beautiful digs (I like to say the best part of this two week experience has not been the gifting of a smart responsive dog but instead has been the gift of a bathroom cleaned daily), our new friends and most of all our trainers is to be cut tomorrow night at graduation.  When we return to our homes, each recipient is to be- quite literally- umbilically corded to their dog for two additional weeks.  It has been the experience of these very experienced trainers that it is the bond between human and dog that makes the whole desire to work emerge for the dogs.  Cesare has done well with this even schlepping Walden into the bathroom with each visit.  (Did I mention that it is cleaned daily?)

We spent a good deal of time seeing what our pup can really do the last couple of days.  Walden can open doors, turn on light switches and get help for Ces.  Still not recognizing Cesare's seizures, we are confident that will happen with time.

Below is Jennifer Arnold and one recipient Scott with his horse, I mean dog, Sam.  Another love bond for sure.

We spent lots of time with the puppies in training yesterday and today.  These little fluff balls start their training at just a few weeks old and in 18 months will thrill a dozen or so of the 1000 recipients on the Canine Assistants' waiting list.  From birth to placement, the cost is estimated to be about $22,500 per dog.  We are very fortunate indeed. 

Puppy Puddle

Priceless...

Four days left..

So much to know before training ends in four days.  We had a long and lazy weekend.  Cesare and I worked a little on "Get Help!", probably the most important cue we can leave here with.  Walden did alright, as long as he thinks it's a game anyway.  Hope Ces will be just as cheery when he's in the middle of a cluster of seizures in the middle of the night. 

What we're watching:   Teasing the Dog  (over and over again), more talking animals and, of course, laughing animals.

What we're reading:  Canine Assistant's founder Jennifer Arnold's book that details all that she's learned about dog behavior resulting in "choice training", never force.  And a book with similar philosophy backed up by research that explains that while descendents of wolves, there is no useful reason to dominate dogs as if they were wolves: Dog Sense

Settling in..

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."

IT'S WALDEN!!!

What an experience.  I didn't post last night for fear I'd jinx Cesare.  We walked into the training room yesterday and within the first few minutes Cesare was drawn to Walden's crate.  They bonded.  Seriously bonded.  Right away.  But, later when possible matches were presented to Cesare, none of them Walden, the dogs and Ces were tepid at best.   Then out came Walden.  They were in love.

But, you can't fall in love, not yet.  There are eleven amazing, brave recipients in this class.  Each needs to find their perfect match.  So, not until today were matches announced.  Ces was given Walden!  They love each other, it's so apparent.  Here is their official "matching photo" from today:

We're very tired and very happy.  More tomorrow!

With gratitude,
Cesare and Mom

Mother's Day

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.

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.