Unsung heroes

I really need to give some props right now to the two most important men in my life—the human ones, that is. Their lives and schedules have been just as upended as mine, but they will reap none of the rewards. This journey with G dog is all about me. And as selfish as that sounds, the only way for this service dog/human relationship to work is if G completely bonds with me and only me. 

This translates into making sure that I, alone, am responsible for anything wonderful in this dog’s life. All the pets and chin scratches. All the cuddles. All the food, the treats, the toys, the games of fetch—all of it—only from me. 

My son and husband are merely spectators of the fun, never getting to participate in it. It’s almost cruel. They’re the ones who get to go out in the frigid cold with snow up to their calves to let the dog out but don’t ever get the opportunity to feel just how velvety soft G’s ears are. They are the ones who have to change out G’s slobbery water bowl every day (because I can’t) but never get the privilege of handing him his beloved unicorn stuffy. Whenever he greets them excitedly when they return home, they don’t get to acknowledge him or even make eye contact.

Eric and Aidan have admitted how difficult this has been for them because G is so sweet and lovable, and they would love nothing more than to be able to play with him. My goal with getting a service dog in the first place was to take some of the burden off from them down the road. I never thought how it would impact them in the present. It’s a true testament to how much they care for and love me because they are trying to be so diligent with following all the rules. These hardline directives are in place so that G will always focus on me and my needs instead of just running off to the family member who seems most interesting in the moment. It makes sense, but it’s still difficult.

It’s vital that anyone thinking about going down this path understands that a service dog will never be the family’s pet. And that to be successful, the work will require a level of commitment and discipline from everyone in the household. The rules are much more strict now during the bonding period. It may be 6 months or longer before Eric and Aidan will be allowed to interact with G in more fun ways, but it will only be in moderation to keep our bond intact. It’s situations like these that remind me of just how truly blessed I am to have these amazing men in my corner. 

It is fair to say that, as a result of my diagnosis, my life did not turn out at all according to plan. But the richness of the relationships I have formed with such caring and compassionate family members, friends, co-workers have turned out to be more rewarding than I ever imagined possible. And I’ll take that win any day.