[nagdu] Biological Family Support for Service Animals

Lyn Gwizdak linda.gwizdak at cox.net
Sat Jun 23 17:10:24 UTC 2012 

Hi Jenny,
Yeah - step mom.  I said Mom because she sounded like she really was a Mom 
to you even though she wasn't your biological mother.

Hey, happy birthday and that was nice of your father to give you money - it 
sure is great when things get paid off!

Alzheimers in one's 50s, yeah, it's so sad.  In the years of working in 
nursing homes, I came across many of these.  My Dad being almost 88 has had 
a good life even though it was a kind of hard one.  he grew up poor to 
immigrant parents who had only a grade school education.  His brothers and 
most of his sisters treated him like crap.  My Dad never went to college but 
he was smart and talented as a wood worker.  He built beautiful cabinets, 
built the house I grew up in, and could fix just about everything.  He no 
longer can do any of these thiings but he remains cheerful surrounded by a 
family that loves him.  He will never be just dumped into a nursing home and 
abandoned by his family.  No way!

Take care,

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: Friday, June 22, 2012 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Biological Family Support for Service Animals


> Hi Lin,
>
> she's not my biological Mother, she's my Step-Mom.
>
> My Dad just sent me a lot of money for my birthday and that has to go to 
> paying off a dishwasher that I'd like to get the payments over with, and 
> of course, tithing.
>
> sometimes, I feel comfortable with bringing up the idea of sending me a 
> plane ticket, but after the money he just sent me, which I have no idea 
> how much it is, cause his handwriting is terrible.  I'm leaving it alone 
> for the moment.
>
> She developed it young.  Late 50's.  No one deserves that, but to be so 
> young.  It's a shame.
>
> I hope things with your family goes well at the get together you're family 
> is having.
>
> Jenny
> On Jun 20, 2012, at 2:28 PM, Lyn Gwizdak wrote:
>
>> 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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>>
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