The Caretaker

Holly Arnold-Rains & Mobility and Seizure Assist Dog Link

After raising three children, mourning the loss of two husbands, and dealing with spinal meningitis and unmanageable seizures for most her life, it’s Holly’s turn to be cared for. That’s why Holly and Mobility and Seizure Assist Dog Link make such a great pair.

Holly Arnold-Rains of St. Anthony, Minn. has a complicated history of stroke and seizures. Her symptoms have become difficult to control and manage over time and a variety of chronic issues have developed. Holly’s main problem is balance. She’s broken her wrist falling down stairs and relies on a walker to get around. Holly began to worry that each time she lost her balance she would need to rely on someone else to take care of her.

“I realized that I was calling on my kids more and more for help,” Holly says. “To keep my independence and be able to stay in my home, I knew I couldn’t keep depending on my kids.”

In addition to balance issues, Holly has trouble grasping items with her wrist that was damaged. Holly’s physical therapist thought an assistance dog from Can Do Canines might alleviate many of Holly’s issues. But the partnership has turned out to be more life-changing than either of them imagined.

Helping with the stumbling blocks of Holly’s illness, Mobility Assist Dog Link acts as a stepping stone to her independence. When she drops items and can’t pick them up, Link is there to help. No phone call or request to a family member required.

“Link is so attentive to my needs,” Holly says. “He just knows—he has an instinct. If I drop something, even when I didn’t know that I did it, he’ll surprise me by bringing it right to me.”

Holly feels she can do much more lately because she’s not as exhausted from the day-to-day tasks that take up her time. Link frees up her energy by helping open doors, retrieving the phone, and even lending a paw with the laundry.

Holly says that she can now go out with confidence to church or to run errands. Her seizures can come at any time, so she needs Link to get her medication and keep her Vagus Nerve Stimulation magnet “handy.” Holly uses this special magnet to trigger an implanted device near her neck and deliver a burst of stimulation. This electric pulse can help stop her seizure before it occurs. If a seizure does occur, Link has a very important task—making sure Holly recovers quickly.

“He licks and hugs me, and makes sure I’m aware—it’s wonderful for him to lay there with me and be there for me,” Holly says. “I’ve been a caretaker for many years, so I’m honored to finally have someone taking care of me.”

Thanks to Link’s support, Holly says she is able to be independent in her home and won’t be moving into an assisted living or a nursing home anytime soon. At the age of 65, she says this is something she’s not ready for.

To all the volunteers and donors who made the partnership possible, Holly says, “You can’t measure the love, bonding and help that has occurred. I am able to live independently and we, Link and I, can be a team. I’m so appreciative.”

Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:

Puppy Raiser: Ron and Madonna Norton
Breeder Host: Elizabeth Herberg
Whelping Home: The Lenneman Family
Prisons: Inmate Handlers at the Federal Correctional Facility at Waseca; Inmate Handlers at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Faribault
All Prison Furlough Families