I am 38 years old with a rare condition that affects my, joints, tendons, connective tissue, cartilage, hearing and eventually maybe my sight. When I was born they did not know what was wrong with me but after many years and lots of test they found and diagnosed me at 8 years of age with Morqio Syndrome. I was told I was the first girl to be diagnosed in the United States.
They gave me a laundry list of things that could or would happen to me latter in life but most of them have not come to be or I have over come them.
I am a Army wife to a solider here at Fort Carson and I have an eight years old son
who is a great help to me and the family.
Everyone who knows me says I should get a service dog but to me that meant I was getting worse, but my thoughts recently have changed in this area. Now I see having a service dog helps me become more independent then I was. If I was to fall when no one was home a service dog could help me by calling 911 which helps my husband rest easy knowing I am ok when he is gone on deployment and my son is not home. Some of the other ways a service dog could help me is by picking things up when I drop them, helping me keep my balance when I am walking, help me get dressed with socks and shoes. With this condition things could get worse, so I need to be able to get the help with things that I can not do for myself. With the help of Colorado Service Dogs they have all ready placed a black lab with me which I have named Onyx. Now I use a scooter but latter in life I may have to use a wheelchair.
As the days go by and I see how wonderful Onxy is and the training we are both receiving with the guidance of Sharon Davis, I believe my independence grows daily as does my self confidence and the comfort that I am bringing to the hearts of my family and friends here in Colorado and back home in Nebraska.
All money donated to Colorado Service Dogs, Inc.
is applied to the general fund.
