Alex Loehlein and Mobility Assist Dog Yahtzee
By Leslie Flowers
At first glance, Alex Loehlein of Andover, Minnesota looks like any other 10-year-old boy. Then you notice his gait is slightly different and he can’t walk as far as others his age. These are just a couple symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic condition in which the body lacks dystrophin, a protein that keeps muscle cells intact. All muscles, including the heart, are affected and get weaker over time.
Alex’s parents, Jackie and Adam, worry about Alex. When he is fatigued, simply reaching down to retrieve a dropped item can cause him to fall; many times he is unable to get off the floor without help. Alex also has social anxiety which keeps him from making friends and communicating with adults at school who are there to help him.
After getting Alex’s diagnosis, Jackie and Adam tried to enroll him in a drug trial but were told he was “too healthy” to participate, so Alex began taking steroids and heart medication to keep his muscles as healthy as possible. One year later Alex was accepted into a different trial where he flew to Los Angeles once a month for two years of treatment. Now he can continue his treatments in Iowa City—but he doesn’t have to face his hospital stay alone. He will be accompanied by a petite two-year-old Labrador Retriever named Yahtzee.
Through the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Alex and his family met a young man with a Can Do Canines assistance dog. They learned how his assistance dog helped him at home but also helped him gain social confidence. Jackie sent in the application for Alex in January 2017, and he was matched with the sweet, cuddly Yahtzee in July.
From the very first meeting, Yahtzee seemed to know that Alex was her boy. She listened closely to hear his barely audible whispers and responded quickly to his commands. Alex memorized the commands he needed to use and took full responsibility for Yahtzee’s care when she moved home. “He does everything for Yahtzee,” said Jackie. “He feeds her, brushes her, walks her … everything except picking up poop. That’s my job but that’s a small price for what she gives to Alex.”
With Yahtzee there to help, Alex doesn’t have to bend over and risk falling to retrieve a dropped Lego. He doesn’t have to struggle with opening the refrigerator when he wants something to drink. And he now looks forward to his nighttime routine.
“I thought having another dog would be a lot of work for me but Yahtzee has actually taken some of the responsibility off of me,” says Jackie. “She helps Alex get ready for bed by opening the drawer and picking out his pajamas for the night, then getting his braces.” Jackie is also thankful that Yahtzee always knows where Alex is and will come to her if he is struggling and needs help.
A month after moving in, Yahtzee accompanied Alex to his infusion treatment in Iowa. During the three-hour treatment she laid at his feet, often standing to put her head on Alex’s lap to let him know he wasn’t alone. She even slept in bed with him at the hospital. When asked if this treatment and hospital stay was better than all others, Alex’s face lit up and he shook his head with an enthusiastic, “YES!”
Alex is looking forward to the next step in his journey with Yahtzee, when she begins attending school with him after the holidays. “I want her with me at school to help if I drop something,” Alex whispered, “I love her so much!”
Alex and his family are very grateful to everyone who helped raise and train Yahtzee. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this if we would have to travel to another state to train,” commented Jackie. “We can’t thank everyone enough for the gift we have been given.”
Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:
Great Start Home: Tysley Taylor
Puppy Raiser: The inmate handlers at FCI Sandstone
Special Thanks: Lindsay Merkel, Lynn Kjolsing
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