[nagdu] Introduction

[mary wurtzel]

Hello list,
My name is Mary Wurtzel, and I just joined this list.
I have a male black lab named Felix who is a balance dog as well 
as a guide dog.  I went to the Guide Dog Foundation last 
February.  As far as I know, this is the only guide dog schl that 
trains dogs specifically to help with balance issues.
I have been falling when walking for many years.  It would happen 
if I hit a particularly big crack inthe sidewalk, or if I got too 
close to the edge of the walk and hit a large edge down.  The 
falling became worse,  to the point that I feared falling more 
and more.
I tried to get a guide dog in 2004 but was not allowed to stay at 
the schl and graduate.   The good thing that came out of this 
horrible experience was that I discovered the reason for my 
falling.
I am blind because of being a premie, and I also have very mild 
cereberal Palsy.
I have had this difficulty all my life and was never diagnosed.  
I grew up thinking I was just uncoordinated.  I worked ten times 
harder just to become an alternate cheer leader.
Sorry for such a long story, but now I can walk again all by 
myself.  I am going quite fast, too.  Anyone who may know a 
person like my husband, Fred, knows there are some cane users who 
are very confident and walk very very fast.  I was always being 
left inthe dust.  Well, now Felix and I can give Fred   a bit of 
a run for his  money!!!
Fred would never never have a guide  dog,  so blind people can 
have differences of opinion on the travel mode and still live 
together in harmony!! It will be thirty-six years on December 
4th.
I will cut this epistle a bit short.  I have already found the 
list ideas interesting.
We will be forming a guide dog division at our state convention 
here in Michigan in a little over a week.
I am sure this list will provide us with issues which we can work 
on.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Mary Wurtzel