Feature Stories

Lindsay Moon & Hearing Assist Dog Cookie  Lindsay Moon of Apple Valley, Minn. is no stranger to assistance dogs. For six years, a Can Do Canine named Rosco helped her live a more independent life. Lindsay has had severe hearing loss since she was very young. From 2008 to 2014, her Hearing Assist Dog helped alert her to the many sounds around her that she was unable to hear. “Rosco did a wonderful job during his years, working with me doing his tasks and helping to keep my spirits up,” Lindsay says. “Rosco was there for me when I was …

Nicholas Stay and Autism Assist Dog Remo Melissa Stay of Brooklyn Park, Minn. is the mother of two boys: Payton, twelve, and Nicholas, ten. Three years ago, she sought help to better understand their youngest son, Nick, and what she thought were behavioral problems. What she found, however, was that Nick was autistic and processed the world and the people around him differently than most. Nick’s diagnosis does not limit his intelligence; rather, it limits his ability to cope with his surroundings and process change. For instance, when Nick is in public and caught off guard by a loud noise, …

Max Vellon & Autism Assist Dog Jaycee Having responsibilities can go a long way toward improving anyone’s life, but especially for those with autism. Children assigned regular duties begin to feel empowered and develop a sense of accomplishment. It’s even more rewarding when it comes from taking care of your best friend. Eight-year-old Max Vellon lives in St. Louis Park, Minn. with his mother, Jenny, and his brother, sister and grandfather. He was officially diagnosed with autism at just 18 months of age. “There were some developmental delays, for sure,” Jenny says. “It wasn’t so much in the social sphere …

Daniel Stirewalt and Autism Assist Dog Dory Daniel Stirewalt of Crosby, Minn. can get frustrated and angry with small changes in his routine—like many young children do. Daniel has autism, however, and his reactions can become severe, including punching, hitting, yelling and screaming. “Daniel’s frustration and irritability, even with minimal changes in his routine, can range from moderate to severe depending on the day,” his mother Leilani says. To cope Leilani tried using tools such as a weighted vest and blankets to calm Daniel’s emotional meltdowns. These products have been shown to relieve anxiety by regulating the sensory system when …

Cole Johnson & Hearing Assist Dog Paisley When the fire alarm sounds in your college dorm, you get out as quickly as possible. But what if you sleep through the alarm and nobody comes to alert you? This is exactly what happened to Cole Johnson, who has had profound hearing loss since a childhood bout with meningitis. Although it was a false alarm, he admits “the incident was upsetting and unsettling to me.” Now a young professional, the Eden Prairie, Minn. resident hasn’t let his hearing loss sidetrack a college education or career as a financial analyst. But the prospect of …

Bill Monson & Mobility Assist Dog Percy Working as an auto mechanic for 25 years, Bill enjoyed his job and loved being around people. Unfortunately, there was a terrible work accident—a transmission jack broke and the transmission landed directly on Bill, bending him the wrong way and breaking his back. Bill tried to persevere and worked for five more years, despite the exacerbation of his back injury. But four back surgeries later, his doctors decided it was in Bill’s best interest to retire. Bill now uses a wheelchair to get around and stays active by fishing and making unique gifts, …

April Biever & Diabetes Assist Dog Basia When April Biever of Tomah, Wis. started the process of applying for a Diabetes Assist Dog, she could only imagine how much her life would change. “I’ve been diabetic since I was three years old,” April explains. “I have hypoglycemic unawareness, so I never know when my sugar is low.” Unfortunately, this has led to some scary situations. There were multiple times when April left her house to run an errand and became confused about where she was, or how she got there. She tried everything, including a pancreatic transplant which would hopefully …

Alisha Srock & Mobility Assist Dog Maverick Alisha Srock of New Brighton, Minn. is not one to let a challenging situation get the best of her. While she’s had cerebral palsy since birth—which equates to decreased mobility—she works each day to not let it inhibit her lifestyle. Alisha lives independently in her own apartment in a building staffed by on-call personal care assistants (PCA’s). She attends North Hennepin Community College full-time and plans to transfer to Metropolitan State University this spring to continue her coursework in elementary education. Her extroverted personality shines when she is out in public volunteering at …

Volunteer Mike Ferber and the handsome, red-vested assistance dog in training who accompanies him around town are indeed, as he says, “a walking, talking billboard” for Can Do Canines. They’re also a billboard for the Thrivent Choice program. Mike enjoys telling people about how Can Do Canines assistance dogs provide independence for people with disabilities and how to volunteer for the organization. If those folks are Thrivent Financial members, he also explains how they can direct Thrivent grant money toward Can Do Canines through the Thrivent Choice program. Mike and his partner, Betty Otto, have been Can Do Canines volunteers …

Terry Marshall & Hearing Assist Dog Carson Imagine not being to hear the alarm clock in the morning. How would you wake up to go to work? How would you start your day? This is the challenge Terry Marshall of Miltona, Minn. has battled for the last 20 years. Terry has Meniere’s disease, which led to progressive hearing loss. Luckily his wife, Connie, has been able to help rouse him out of bed in the morning, but there have still been numerous other sounds he finds himself missing. When asked what sounds he has trouble discerning, Terry responds jovially, “I’m …