.
You know when you have those moments that are just so beautiful to observe and your heart is so touched it starts leaking out your eyes? Yeah, I seem to have those too. Every day. I have to learn to keep my composure better but my special journey and altered perspective allow me to see some amazing things.
.
The most recent moment was Bridger being introduced to a Service Dog.
.
Bridger meet Dixie. Dixie meet Bridger.
.JPG)
Now kiss hello.
.
We are entering a new phase with Bridger, it is scary and overwhelming. I don't know how it will work, but as I put some "tools" into our toolbox it brings peace knowing that we are ready to tackle the challenges of the coming years. One of those tools will be a Skilled Companion for Bridger.
.
While frequenting our favorite accessible playground in McLean, we met the park manager who had with her a small adorable Labrador donned in a mini "Service Dog in Training" vest. She shared with us about the remarkable organization that she and the dog are part of. I had researched other organizations and none is a thorough and exacting to create such amazing Service Dogs as this one. She is a "puppy raiser" who takes a puppy with the most carefully bred pedigree, she introduces them to the world of loud sounds, commotion and distractions and trains them to ignore it all and obey a series of 50 specific commands. The puppy raisers keep them from age 6 weeks to 18 months. After 18 months the dog is sent to the main center for "Puppy University". This is an intensive training course where they receive an additional 6 months of training to become a Skilled Companion. Not all dogs make the cut. Some only receive the degree of Companion Dog. Some don't become that. After their intensive training and if they make the cut, individuals are selected for placement and go to the center for 10 days of intensive team training where the dog becomes specifically trained to the person, and visa versa.
.
We began the application process 6 months ago. I think it would be easier to adopt a baby. We completed our 10+ page application. We submitted photo collages of our family, our home, our yard, pictures of each of Bridger's pieces of therapeutic equipment. We had phone interviews, documentation and letters of recommendations from our pediatrician and therapists. Lastly, we had to travel up to Long Island for the final 4 hour in-person interview. Bridger would be a part of half of that interview, so we brought his wonderful former teacher along to help care for him during the off-interview times. We also brought Bridger's best friend, who happens to be his brother, who is so excited for the prospect of what may soon be for his brother.
.
We headed up to New York, managing rush hour traffic across Manhattan (which I was very proud of myself for navigating in my petite suburban) and up to the top of Long Island. I was a little worried as we were driving down the small road in need of repair in a very old and industrial area. We passed some auto glass shops, fencing companies, tow truck yards, as the gps said we were just hundreds of feet away from where we were going to be staying for the night. Then we came across a large, gated compound that was meticulously landscaped. Phew. We had arrived. We were let in the gate and welcomed into the beautiful building. We were shown our dorm rooms for the night which were perfectly accessible. They gave us a tour of the training facilities - amazing! I was so impressed! We ordered some delicious New York pizza and settled into our rooms for the night.
.
Night - I said NIGHT! Bridger didn't get the message. True to his nature, he couldn't settle himself into a new and foreign environment so he was awake until almost 2am. He woke up at for the day at 5:30 and he woke up a few times in between. Collectively I had about 2 hours of sleep. He woke up in a screaming, feisty mood and I was worried that he would surely not pass his interview now. I sat him down to brush up on his interview skills. Really, there is no way to do that, it just made me feel better to try.
.
We attended the morning 2 hour lecture with three other families there to be interviewed. Bridger was with his teacher and Lance insisted on sitting through the lecture with me. He was so cute. He chimed in with the others with his own questions about the program and how to properly utilize the dog.
.
After the lecture we went to the hands-on portion of the afternoon. We learned three basic commands and how to execute. The trainer was demonstrating the "Don't" command with its accompanying choke collar snap. She would say it robotically over and over. Oh no, Bridger thought that was HiLaRIouS! He kept laughing and laughing yelling, "Don't!" and smacking me over and over. What if he hits me and we are disqualified, I worried. Oh dear. I uttered some fierce whisperings in his ear, to which he then stopped smacking me, but he still couldn't control his giggle every time "Don't" was said.
.
These dogs were fascinating! I knew they were going to be obedient, but this was something else! They are trained to keep there nose in line with your leg and never be forward of that point. They are trained to stay within 6" of your leg or wheelchair at all times - even when you move. To watch a dog stay within that proximity of a moving wheelchair not knowing which way it will move and not get its paws run over was incredible! We constantly get our feet run over staying within a few yards of Bridger.
.
We were called up first to try what had just been demonstrated. They had me come up, as his facilitator, and give commands and corrections as needed to the dog. Bridger loved watching this. Then it was his turn. They had him wheel up to greet the dog.
.
*pause*
**insert teary moment for everyone**
.
He looked at the dog and the dog at him, then the dog was licking him all over and Bridger was beside himself in the cute giggle that melts all of us. Bridger sat on the left with me on the right and the dog in the middle. He would give the command in the best voice he could, "Dayton, down", and I would echo "Down" and the dog would lay down. More giggles from Bridger. We did it again and again with different commands. Bridger was ecstatic. He had power. He had command to make something in his world do something. He spends his life waiting for things to happen -- for someone to get the food when he feels hungry, for someone to reach the toy that he can't, for someone to turn on the tv, for someone to come see him because he can't come see them. He had power with his simple words to make something happen - and he knew it!
.
Two older ladies had their turn, and then a sweet 14 year old girl had her moment. She tenderly went up to greet the dog. . .
.
*pause*
**insert one of those moments that are just so beautiful to observe that your heart is touched and starts leaking out your eyes**
.
It was so beautiful to watch this sweet high school aged girl who, despite her disabilities, probably feels all too perfectly frequent feelings of loneliness. She was sweetly greeting this dog, who was so excited to greet her back. They had a tender exchange and I saw the critical purpose and miracle of a Companion Dog.
.
**dried my eyes**
.
We had our final in-person interview and now wait another four weeks to hear if we made cut and wait the 1-2 years for our Skilled Companion.
.
We made the loooooong trek home munching on some delicious treats we picked up from an amazing Italian bakery. Friday traffic, rain, etc. We stopped at Cabela's [husband is so jealous] to get our wiggles out, have a delicious dinner at a restaurant nearby made the final push home getting in after midnight. Bridger's teacher was a wonderful road trip companion and a true trooper. My boys passed out on top of each other which made the last hour or two so relaxing.
.
.
I would have never imagined a few years ago that I would be trekking through Manhattan block by block to go be interviewed for a Service Dog that will hopefully become a wonderful addition to our family. I continually reflect with awe at the places I am going, people I am meeting and beautiful sites along the way that I otherwise would have never experienced because of our unique journey. A doggone amazing journey indeed!
.
