Growing up with a disability means only knowing a life of adaptations. This can make it challenging to see the need for additional help. Callie had a stroke as a newborn baby, leaving her with left-sided hemiparesis. She has very limited use of her left arm and leg, along with some other physical challenges. She also started having seizures when she was 18, and while medication has helped manage them, she still experiences a petit mal seizure every few weeks. Callie enjoys dance classes, working at a local fast-food restaurant, and has been envisioning moving into her own home. Even …
assistance dogs
Assistance Dog Transforms a Quiet World
Jessica was born deaf in her right ear and started losing hearing in her left ear at age 9. A hearing aid helped for many years, but in 2012, she completely lost her remaining hearing. Jessica found success with a cochlear implant (CI), which is still not the miracle solution it can seem to be. She wears a cochlear implant mostly to help communicate with people, but she still misses a lot of important sounds. Without any hearing on her right side and the inability to determine the source or direction of sounds, she’s had severe concerns about staying safe. …
New Companion Paves a Smoother Path
As a bright, energetic young girl with autism, Ava thrives on structure and routine. She struggles to cope with sensory issues and transitions, and being overwhelmed sometimes leads to meltdowns. Since being diagnosed with autism when she was about 3 years old, Ava has been using multiple techniques and resources to help her handle emotions. Despite many efforts, she still experiences angry outbursts, anxiety, and stimming behaviors. Ava’s family limited activities to try to prevent emotional reactions. Ava’s mother, Diane, saw a story on the news about Can Do Canines, and the very next day, a co-worker encouraged her to …
A Dog for When She’s (Not) Feeling Low
It’s a challenge to keep up with Halle when she’s out running in the Milwaukee, WI, area, but what people can’t see is that she’s trying to keep up with herself. Halle has been managing Type 1 diabetes for 23 years, after being diagnosed at just 4 years old. She learned to take care of herself very early on, but with Type 1 diabetes, a person can do everything in their power to control their glucose levels and still experience moments where they rise or fall out of a target range. Halle has dealt with hypoglycemic episodes when her blood …
Making the Leap From Good to Great
Mike was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth. Symptoms primarily affect his left side. He has difficulty using his left hand to grasp heavy or small items, so he uses his right arm, with his left being his “helping hand.” His balance is limited due to decreased mobility in his left leg, and he tends to trip easily. If he falls, it becomes a dangerous situation since he has a hard time getting himself back to a safe position. Despite these constant threats to his safety, Mike’s determination to adapt enabled him to maintain employment and a sense of independence. …
Still Finding Answers, Forty Years After a Diagnosis
Disabilities often come as a double-edged sword, not only causing mobility challenges where basic movements require extra effort, but also limiting a person’s energy reserve, which is drained quickly just getting through the day. Candy has lived with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for 39 years. Her symptoms change on a regular basis, but her condition mostly affects her balance and her cognition. MS interrupts the flow of information to the rest of the body, and the process of navigating the world demands unending strenuous physical and mental exertion. Over the course of the day, Candy’s energy fades abruptly, and she has …
Stella Brings Safety, Comfort and Companionship to Robbie
Robbie is an active boy. Like most kids his age, he enjoys hands-on learning and exploring. Robbie was diagnosed with Autism and thrives on calm. He is not able to cope with stressful situations, focus amid distractions, or communicate what his needs are. Robbie’s family each had to learn how they are best able to support him, but they were looking for help to make it easier and allow them more freedom to explore other activities. Roxanne, Robbie’s mother, said he has always struggled with being overstimulated, distracted, restless, and worried about his routine. He would frequently have outbursts and …
Quirk Takes Fear Out of Daily Routine
Cherie, a retired special education teacher, made a career of helping others. She even served on a national board and local committees for children with emotional disturbance. However, since 2010, chronic pain from a degenerative joint disease has been debilitating for Cherie. In 2017, she was diagnosed with non-common hydrocephalus. She has a shunt in her scalp to manage the fluid build-up, but a fall that knocks it would be fatal. Cherie has been on the floor for hours at a time because she was physically unable to get up. She’s learned to stay safe by staying close to home …
Volunteer Spotlight: Sophie Weigel
Sophie Weigel moved to Minnesota from Iowa five years ago, right after college. She says, “I wanted to get involved in the community somehow. I went online to VolunteerMatch and saw that Can Do Canines had an event coming up and went to the website to check it out. I was in love with the mission right away!” For five years, Sophie served on the planning committees for the Fetching Ball Gala and the Can Do Woofaroo. Throughout the year, she plans and carries out these very important fundraising events as part of a group of other dedicated event volunteers. …
Winning Invisible Battles
Kaida has been living with multiple conditions that compound to cause ceaseless pain and anxiety. The pain increases with any effort to move. Fibromyalgia causes her deep chronic pain. Degenerative disc disease causes her to endure back spasms and a decreased range of motion. Ehlers Danlos Syndrome affects her connective tissue, creating weak joints and hypermobility. PTSD diminishes her ability to function in public by causing her additional stress when people reach out to help her if she falls. Pain from people bumping into her, along with her history of severe falls, prompted her to stay in her Plymouth home …
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