HOPE...

It is so strange that God has used a dog to reignite hope.  It isn't that we had stopped hoping all together but we had adjusted our expectations as the years hove passed.  We truly believe that God is able to heal Tina...instantaneously or over time...but the day to day responsibilities of caring for a handicapped child didn't leave alot of energy to "dream" and hope.

Hope is alive again.  Tina loves Koki and Koki is extremely loyal and devoted to her.  I don't know when we have seen Tina so excited about anything.  You ask her about Koki and she just beams.  In the midst of Tina's excitement, it seems that Tina is trying to communicate...not with words but with alot of noise and facial expressions.  I don't know what this relationship is going to do for Tina but it is obvious that it is going to do something.

Tina and I had to take Koki to the vet today...the service dog organization requires that you acquirte a vet within 2 weeks of placement.  The first thing that happened was a dog came into the lobby and tried to socialize with Koki...Koki was in work mode and wouldn't pay any attention to the dog.  When we got to the exam room and the doctor wanted to take Koki to do a couple of routine tests, Koki did not want to leave Tina...she went reluctantly.  The vet was fantastic...he talked to Tina and shook her hand.  He was very impressed with Koki.  Everything went great except we found out the Koki is afraid of the scale...we had to physically lift her onto it.  We have to wiegh her once a month for the first six months (a requirement of the service dog organization) so she is going to have to adjust.

I am struggling with not setting my expectations too high...I want to hope but I also know that, as a mother, my heart can break very easily for my child.  I want to hope, I want to believe, I want to have faith, I want Tina to have the best life she can possibly have.  No matter what happens through this situation I know that God is at work to do something that will birng glory to Himself!

Forever God is FAITHFUL!

The last week has been wild and today proved to be just a continuation.  Took Tina to train with Koki while the trainer watched.  First we went to Petco and I had Tina walk with her walker for 35-40 minutes in the store while Koki was attached to her walker.  Tina and Koki did GREAT!  I only had to "correct" Koki once and rarely had to give any verbal cues.  After Petco, we went to Home Depot and used the stroller.  Everything went fantastic.  Then we went to Chilis for lunch.  I took Tina to the restroom.  I put her in the stall with Koki lying on the floor and then left the stall to give Tina some privacy...Koki never moved.  The trainer said that we actually passed the "Public Access Test" but she wants us to meet her in a couple of weeks and officially take it.

God's hand has been all over this whole situation.  The timing of everything, the fact that the 13 day training was reduced to about 12 hours, the way Tina and Koki are already bonding and so much more.

Tonight I saw evidence that the dog is going to make a difference in how people approach Tina.  There are many people who, when we are out in the community, avoid eye contact with Tina or just stare at her (especially if she is having a noisy day).  We went out to run errands and walk around the mall tonight and I can't tell you how many people made eye contact with Tina because of Koki and there were even quite a few who talked to Tina.  It was absolutely amazing to see. 

I want to make one thing very clear...This whole situation has been designed and directed by God.  Please take a few minutes to thank God for what He has done...I know I will be doing that for quite a while!

KOKI'S HOME!

Koki and I got home about 2pm.  Our training today involved going to a shopping center.  First we worked with the walker and then I got out Tina's stroller.  Koki did fantastic and I had to use very few verbal cues.  We walked down the pet food aisle at the grocery store and there was some food on the floor...she walked right by it.  At lunch, I dropped a piece of food and it landed right in front of her nose...it was still there when we left!  The trainer was very pleased with how everything went.  We went back to the training center and gave Koki a bath and then headed home.

Once we got home things got a little harder.  Koki wanted to be with me and I had to keep taking her over to Tina.  She would lay by Tina and look at me.  This evening some friends came by and brought Tina some presents for Koki...One was a stuffed duck with a squeaker in it...Koki loves it.  She has it with her while she sleeps in Tina's room tonight.

Tomorrow afternoon I hope to work with Tina and Koki with Tina's walker.  Friday morning we will go to the training center and work some more.

Despite the apprehension and stress right now I am so thankful to God for this tremendous blessing.  I know that God is going to do great things!

Training:

Went for my first training session for Tina's service dog today.  The trainer condensed several days worth of lecture material into about 1 1/2 hours...my head must have been spinning.  We went straight from the condensed lessons to working with Koki.  I have to say that Koki is a truly amazing dog.  She struggled a little because her trainer was right there but she very quickly adapted and took her cues and commands from me.  Tomorrow we will be going to a shopping center to see how I do and then I will be giving Koki a bath.  When she is all cleaned up she will be coming home to be with Tina...She actually could have gone home today but I wasn't quite ready for that.  We will go back to the trainer on Friday and I may be taking Tina then...we need to work on how we are going to leash Koki to her when she is using the walker.

We looked at a harness today and I really think that Tina might be able to use a harness to balance as she walks, at least around the house.  The harness costs about $350 (each one is custom made for the dog and owner) so we need to be fairly sure that it would work.  I want to be careful to not set my expectations too high but I so hope it works.

It is so hard to believe that this is actually happening.  Everything has happened so quickly...that is probably a good thing or I would be more panicked than I am.  Koki did so well today but I felt like a bumbling idiot.  I sure hope that I do better tomorrow.

Praise God!!!  Yesterday I got a call from the head of the service dog organization that we interviewed with to get Tina a dog.  She told me they had a possible dog and a trainer she wanted Tina to meet.  I made an appt. for this afternoon thinking that this might lead to Tina getting a dog sometime in the next six months or so.  The trainer asked us some questions and then explained that the dog they wanted us to meet had been trained for an autistic client but things had not worked out.  They brought Koki in to meet Tina and for the next 30+ minutes, Tina sat on the floor with her hand on Koki while we continued to talk.  They made the decision on the spot to give Tina the dog.  I will be going for training several days next week and then Koki will come home and begin the bonding process with Tina.  I am having trouble believing that this is actually happening.  I have spent a number of years trying to get Tina a dog and have run into road block after road block. 

I have to share one more thing from our dog meeting.  I had put Tina back in a chair and we were getting ready to leave.  Koki came up and placed her head in Tina's lap and "kissed" her hand.  Tina smiled.  Koki's father was there and came over and placed his head in Tina's lap, she pushed his head off her lap.  This scene was repeated again.  It was like Tina knew Koki was her dog.  When we got home, we were showing pictures of Koki to two of Tina's caregivers.  I looked at Tina and asked if Koki was her dog...she actually shook her head "yes"...she rarely does that!

Koki is a small Golden Retriever with the sweetest personality.  I really believe that this dog will not only be a great companion for Tina but will also help Tina make some progress in a couple of areas.  I can't wait to see how God uses this to bring about His plan for Tina!