Where did you serve and what did you do?

I joined the USAF I. 1974 enlisted as 90650 (medical admin), later I went into the ISAF reserves in Utah,(Hill AFB) Arizona (Luke afb) and aftern took a ten year break to raise my kids as a single mom. I went back to school and got my registered nurse degree and passed the boards. Ultimately I was commissioned as a MST nurse and later transferred to March afb And went to flight and SEER/Survival land & water to become a ISAF Flight Nurse. I served active duty in OIF & OEF and was injured during the campaigns, once in country and once on the flight line (vehicle I was a passenger in) which resulted in incomplete spinal cord injuries. In addition to PTS I also couldn’t walk properly or safely. I used a wheelchair for most trips outside of the home that require walking or the scooter in the supermarket. I am unbalanced and fall regularly due to the injuries. After working with VA Loma Linda on my OTS (long term) I applied for a service animal with ADASDF in Wisconsin. They accepted me and in about a year a fog was available for me. But I was rear ended on the I-91 (Riverside) and my wheelchair & carrier were demolished . This put the whole thing on hold for another 1-2 years. When I reapplied, I went to Wisconsin to train with Charlie, a GSD (German Shoherd Dog) and Linda, the program manager and trainer. She had trained Charlie on all the things I needed.

Tell us how your dog is helping you continue Still Serving in your community.

Charlie (RIP he passed away quietly at my side of old age a few years ago) – he served, in some manner, even when retired. We trained at ADASDF FOR 10 days and had to pass this huge test consisting off all Things a service dog and handler have to do. We passed with flying colors (100%) and we graduated. We began the trip home and did a little sight seeing at the mall of the Americas, South Dakota, and the general route home. Charlie alerted on my migraines before I knew they were coming so I could take my medicine and not be incapacitated for 3 days, Charlie was next to me so I could balance myself when standing up, sitting down. This seems like nothing until you fall and can’t get up. He braced me going down slight inclines and helped me up inclines, he pulled my wheelchairs down the long VA hospital halls, he woke me up gently when I was having night terror (often) and placed homed between me and others so I could go out again, stand in line at a restaurant. He was an ambassador for Children and adults, but especially loved all Children. We taught a lot of people about service animals and how they behave. He was fabulous!

Why do you do it?

So after Charlie passed away, besides the emotional toll which was immense, I started falling again, etc. Etc. I presently have been raising a puppy Great Pyrenees/Burmese Mountain Dog mix, Cisero. He will be evaluated in September by a local service/emotional animal dogs , Soldiers Best Friend here in arizona. If he is approved (I am already approved as a combat veteran) and they usually take dogs from shelters that are suitable for service. So two Life’s get saved at once. But Cisero came into my life at just the right time and he is almost old enough to be assessed. Meanwhile I have done some basic ground work with him such as sit, down, stay, heel, follow, turn around, pee/poop (yes on command). I am Looking forward to not laying in my driveway and the associated cuts and bruises and not being able to get up And no one hears you . I am looking forward to my new best friend quietly placing himself in front or behind me to give me space. And it would be wonderful to have a terror free night and feel better rested in the morning. The “free rides” with my one dog wheelchair sled won’t be bad either, but he is an(huge) pup, and I am Not putting my broken body in his hands to go zooming down the VA hospital hallways. Maybe later. I do it for quality of life both physically and mentally, which I do not have without a service animal. Pretty simple, he is the ultimate medical equipment with benefits!