[nagdu] Biological Family Support for Service Animals

[Lyn Gwizdak]

Hi Jenny,
What a great support you had in your Mom.

My Dad has Alzheimers - the fairly early stages.  My Mom is taking care of 
him along with the help of my brother and his wife who live five minutes 
away by car.  He will be 88 in a couple of weeks.  My sister and I come to 
visit as much as we can for family get togethers when somebody comes down 
here to get us.  We'll be going to their place when our other sister, her 
two daughters, and their kids come for a visit.

Hopefully, your mother will recognise you when you walk into her home with 
your new guide!

Lyn and Landon
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jenny Keller" <jlperdue3 at gmail.com>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List,the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2012 11:40 AM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Biological Family Support for Service Animals


> Hi all,
>
> When I started losing my sight, I kicked around the idea of getting a dog 
> for a long time.
>
> My Step Mom, who is a dog freak to begin with was supportive when no one 
> else was.
>
> finally, after backing out of the dog idea a few times, and she had taken 
> me to a doctor's appointment one day, she said to me "I know you've talked 
> about getting a guide and backed out, why?"  I couldn't really answer her 
> questions well, I just told her that it was because of all the things I 
> would have to handle with getting a guide.
>
> she asked me what those things were and I told her, things like the hair 
> in the house, grooming, cost, etc.
>
> She then said, "OK, I've heard your excuses, now give me legitimate 
> reasons."
>
> I couldn't give her any other than the ones I gave her, so she told me 
> that I knew I would get help with all that and that those were excuses at 
> best.
>
> I said I agreed with her, and that she was right.  She then asked me, or 
> rather said to me, so when are you going to fill out an online 
> application, when you get in the house right?"
>
> that was just the kick in the pants I needed.
>
> though I have gone through hell with guide dogs, and never could fully 
> trust Brooks, I don't regret it and I can still hear those words over four 
> years later, as she can barely speak now due to the ravages of alseimer's.
>
> those are one of the many conversations I can clearly remember, and will 
> always remember, as she slips away from us because of that horrible 
> disease.
>
> Most of us don't have that support, and my father was not supportive at 
> all, but I thank GOD for Diana, one of the few people in my life that 
> supported me through just about anything.  without her, I would still 
> never have had the opportunity of working a dog, no matter how bad the 
> trust issue was.
>
> At least I know now, that some day, I hope, I will be able to fully trust 
> a dog.
>
> Jenny
>  p
> On Jun 14, 2012, at 5:17 PM, Julie J. wrote:
>
>> Greg,
>>
>> I'm still catching up since being out of town.  Sorry if you've already 
>> gotten more info than you know what to do with! *smile*  Here's my 
>> contribution.
>>
>> It honestly didn't occur to me to discuss my using a guide dog or doing 
>> the training myself with anyone in my family, excepting the people I live 
>> with.  When I started using a cane many years ago this is the same 
>> approach I took then.  I simply incorporated the cane and then the dog 
>> into life as it seemed relevant, logical or natural.  I never made a big 
>> deal out of it.  To this day I honestly have no idea what some of my 
>> family members think of my blindness or my dogs.  It doesn't keep me up 
>> at night wondering.  I feel like it's my decision and really doesn't 
>> concern them.  That's just me though and how I usually do things.  I 
>> don't ask their advice on purchasing a home, getting married, or where to 
>> go on vacation.   It's not that I don't care what they think, it's more 
>> that I'm just comfortable making those decisions on my own and don't feel 
>> that their input would be helpful.  I'm not explaining well, but I hope 
>> it's a bit understandable.
>>
>> All the best in getting it all sorted out,
>> Julie
>>
>>
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>
>
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