Emma and David: Fighting cancer, helping others

Not sure where to really start, so I guess I’ll start from the very beginning with Emma.

Never give up. Never surrender. Fight cancer to the last.

I have had a desire to get another dog for some time as my last dog, a Labrador also, had passed due to illness and age as she was 14. I felt getting a puppy and starting from that point was just going to be too much on me as my job was very hectic and wouldn’t allow me the time to ensure I was available as much as needed. I spent many months reviewing Rescue organizations for Labradors and Golden Retrievers to see if an older dog was an option since it might fit better in my lifestyle. To my dismay, most of which where not local would not allow me to adopt due to distance if the dog didn’t work out for me.

My family and friends knew I was looking also and always kept an eye out for me. I guess in July 2014, I got a call from my son who lives in Atlanta about a friend that had a Labrador they were looking to re-home. He sent me a few pics and of course I was interested. He said she was about 2 yrs old and very docile. He went on to say the current owner was in the Military and didn’t think he could keep her. I let him know I definitely was interested and to let me know. A few weeks went by and I reached back out to my son and was told they would not be giving up the dog at this time. Oh well, back to the drawing board I guess. I continued to look and always seemed to not be able to find what I was looking for or a good fit for both of us.

About 2 more weeks went by and I received a call from my son again, this time he said not only did the owner decide to give her up, he came over and left the dog at his house. I immediately took a few days off and headed to Atlanta where my son lives to see the dog and see if she would work for me.

When I arrived in Atlanta, my son said he has taken the dog to his mom’s house as she had more room and yard to care for her until I arrived. Due to the distance from where my son lived to his Mothers home, we all agreed to meet at a central location and I would take her from there. When I arrived, I walked up to Emma and greeted her with a smile an actually a little tear in my eyes as she was so beautiful and much larger than anyone had explained. I took her by her leash and lead her back to the car since it was starting to rain and I didnt want everyone to get too wet. Emma walked with me calmly, yet gingerly, as I am sure she was unsure what was happening.

I opened the car door and she jumped right in and sat down next to me. From that moment, I knew she was exactly what I was looking for. She allowed me to pet her and love on her with no hesitation or uneasiness. As everyone was saying their goodbyes, I realized I didn’t have food, toys, a leash, collar or anything for her, just open arms. So off to Petsmart we went. I used a piece of rope that my son had as a leash to take her into the store. When all said and done, I we left Petsmart with well over $200.00 in supplies, toys, treats, collars, a new leash and a good shampoo as it was obvious she needed a good bath.

Once at my sons house, she was very unsure of what was happening so when she entered the house she followed me all over as I walked her around to see her surroundings. I sat down on the floor and she immediately came up to me and laid right in my lap as to say, Ok, what’s next. So I thought, well, she’s a lab so may she is ok with a bath as one was needed for sure. It took a little convincing to get her into the tub but she did and a good bath was completed. Once dried off, I gave her food and we continued to play and learn each other for the remainder of the evening.

While speaking to my son, they knew nothing really about Emma. Didn’t know if she had her shots, spayed, what type of food she likes, or anything. I tried many times to reach out to the young man that had her last but for some reason he wouldn’t return my calls. So needless to say I was going at this blindly with her but for some reason, none of that mattered to me.

When it came time for bed. I called her into my room, she followed me with no hesitation and laid down on the floor next to the bed just looking up at me. I made the motion and called onto the bed with me and she eagerly jumped right up and laid next to me. I knew at the moment, this was going to be a great friendship.

The next morning, I loaded up the car with her toys, all her extras and my stuff and opened the door for her. She just jumped right in as if she knew this is where she was to be and was ready to go. She looked happy and excited.

Off to Kentucky we went. Of course we stopped many times along the way home for bathroom breaks and even a drive-thru trip to McDonalds and a cheese burger for Emma. She laid down on a blanket I had in the back seat for her with toys and really never heard a peep out of her for the entire ride home. Well other than a few times she would stand and look out the window or at me which seemed to ease her mind.

Once we made it home, she walked in, started to look around and went right into my living room and laid down as if to say “I’m home!”

The pictures my son sent me didn’t do her justice at all. I expected her to be around 60LBS based on what I saw, but wasn’t sure but immediately made a vet appointment for the next day. She made her self comfortable as I showed her around the house and all. We played the rest of the day and just spent time together and getting to know each other as best we could.

The next morning, I took her to the vet to have her checked over. When I spoke to my vet, I explained I had no idea what shots or anything she has had nor if she was spayed as the prior owner still had not returned my call or offered any information at all. Emma was set up to have any shot she needed, her teeth cleaned and to be spayed. Well, once it came time to leave her at the vet so they could get started, it was apparent she was starting to show signs of separation issues and clung to my side. It took both me and the vet to get her into the back room so they could do what was needed and I went home to wait for them to complete the services.

I received a call from the vet several hours later stating, when he sedated her to clean her teeth he found a small scar on her belly that indicates she may have been spayed. Yet, the scar was higher than he would have expected. We agreed to not open her up at this time to check and just watch to ensure she didnt go into heat over the next few weeks. He completed her shots and teeth cleaning and I went back later that evening to get her. When she saw me just whimperd as to say, Yea, he came back.

Well from that day forward, we spent each day playing, going to the dog park and just learning more about each other. I could see very early on her spirit was so strong and her desire to have someone that just loved and cared for her. She followed me everywhere and to say she was my shadow was a huge understatement. It was apparent, she was not given much attention, love or companionship in her prior home.

A few days later when speaking to my son, I found out she had been passed around to several other people prior to the last person that had her. Poor girl had no idea what home was or where she belonged. I knew then she needed me and I would ensure she never felt that way again.

Still not having any information from her prior owner, we worked through many things together. Emma didnt seem to understand how to go potty in the grass, she would also go on my concrete patio as I assumed maybe were she lived before they didn’t have a yard. She was very very clingy and would get very restless if I was to walk around. She would immediately get up and follow me no matter where I went or what i was doing. Needless to say she wouldn’t let me out of sight as if to say, If he leaves will he come back.

Fast forward a few weeks - Things are getting a little better, still very clingy to me, yet seems to be leaning in small steps that she is home and I will be here for her. As I learned more about her I knew she just needed reassurance daily all will be ok. I worked in small steps to teach her that even if I leave her sight, I will come back. I started with leaving a room and then grew it up to walking out the front door for a few mins and then returning. It seemed to help but needed to be done in small steps so as not to use her to much.

In December of 2014, I was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Cancer that has spread to my bones. I started treatments and several surgeries took place almost immediately to attack the cancer. I can remember, two days after being diagnosed, I had to have surgery to try to remove some of the tumor inside my nasal cavity they could. Emma would be separated from me for the first time and I was worried how this would go or what she may do. I had family here in Lexington and she would be with them until I returned home. When I did return home from the hospital two days later, she greeted me immediately. No jumping up and down, no overly excited actions, she approached me and just kept sniffing me about my head and neck areas as if she knew what I had done and she should tell something was different. I knew then, she was special, she could tell that I was hurting and could tell where I was hurting.

It was then I thought this dog understands whats happening to me and either smell the changes due to my cancer or feel them as I wasn’t really sure. All I know is once I was home she never, ever left me along long than it took her to go outside to pee or to eat her food.

She would just stand here and stare at me as if to say, “it will be ok” I am here. She always reassured me and would lay at my feet and ensure she was touching me at all times. As I recovered from the surgery I started to think, if she could uplift me like this could she do this for others too. I began my journey to to understand what a Therapy Dog was and what they might be able to do to help not only me, but others. I spent many weeks researching this all the while continuing my Chemo and radiation treats on a daily/weekly basis.

I found only one organization in Lexington that appeared to offer these type of programs. So off I went to learn more and see if Emma would even qualify to be trained as a therapy dog. I knew it might be a great way to give back to so many others that have helped me along the way. We started with an evaluation and it was decided she needed her AKC Canine Good Citizens training first.

We started training in Lexington shortly there after and began the AKC CGC classes weekly. Once completed she received her certificate and we were ready to take on the next level of evaluations and training. However, my treatments grew in intensity and became an almost daily thing that didnt allow me to feel well enough to take her to training or even train at home.

Over the course of more than 2 years I ensured weekly chemo and radiation that again delayed her training of any kind as I was just weak or gone too much to be able to train. However I did continue to look for more information and just if trained properly we could give back to the community.

Then I found Pawsibilities Unleased. I did many hours of research on their training, trainer and read as much as I could find to see just how they could help and how we would fit in with them. I was so excited to finally feel well enough to try to start training with Emma again and hoped that I had found the right place as well.

During all my time at Markey Cancer Center I was introduced to the director of their volunteer services and explained what I was wanting to achieve with Emma as a Therapy Dog and if they had any available programs for us to be a part of once training was completed. She seemed very excited to have us join in their program once training was completed.

A few more weeks/months passed and I was able to drive and start training with Emma again and I couldn’t wait. This is when we were introduced to Liz at Pawsibilities Unleased and I sighed Emma and I up for Therapy Training classes. It was during our therapy classes that I explained to Liz of my medical issues and what my ultimate goal was with Emma.

Liz then immediately stated, let’s also train her to be your Service Dog. I had never thought about that and more so that was even an option. I knew I was having stability issues due to the cancer being in my bones and deeply routed in my pelvis and hips. Liz walked me through all the things Emma could do for me and be trained on and I was floored at the idea of being able to train in that manner.

Well let’s fast forward to today, Emma has earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen, AKC Registration, ACK Canine Good Citizen - Community and her Service Dog Distinction via Pawsability Unleased. Our training has been absolutely outstanding and it’s so uplifting to see how Emma reacts when I put her Service Dog vest on and tell her it’s time to go to work.

So far, I have logged over 108 hours of in public work to include elevators, escalators, and even time on a moving walk-way when in Atlanta for a visit with family. 9 hrs of restaurant visits and as of today, about 24 hrs of Doctors office visits and work in their locations.

The sad part of this is we’ve had to stop attending training as my care has changed. I have been told the Chemo and radiation are no longer working and treatments have stoped. I have been moved to more of Hospice care for the time being. My mobility has been reduced to a walker due to the inability to move too well or steady on my own. I am using a walker each day to get around.

I am devastated that my body isn’t allowing us to continue the trainings in Frankfort as we have. I and Emma miss our time there working with Liz, Tiffany and all the other dogs and handlers there. We both just loved going there. I still desire to continue working with Emma and finding a way for to her complete her Therapy Dog training. I am not sure how we can do this but even though I am dealing with this Cancer, I want to see Emma complete what we set out for.

I am doing things daily as I can to continue to work with her. She is confused at times due to so many changes for me. Not sleeping in a regular bed as I now have a hospital bed and she can’t lay with me for very long. Also, I am working with her to follow next to me as I navigate through the house with my walker. She always comes to me when I start to move to ensure she’s there to Brace for me when I try to get up. Even though I don’t need her too at all times, there are some times when she is needed.

Even though I am at tis time under a different type of care, I want to continue to train her to pick things up I may drop and being able to push handicap door buttons for me when needed. When this all started my ultimate goal was to have her complete her Therapy Dog training and become certified and for us to be able to visit and give back. I am not sure how this can be done at this point but I am not giving up nor is Emma.

We love our time with Pawsibilities Unleashed, Liz Norris, Tiffany, and so many others there. I could not have picked a better team, trainers or group than Pawsibilities Unleashed. If you have any suggestions or methods I can do to aid me in continuing our pursuit to her Therapy Distinction, please let know as it’s something very near and dear to my heart to complete.

David and Emma

As of today Emma & David have been awarded their Therapy Certification and are now a full member of Pawsibilities Unleashed Therapy Organization.

Never give up Never surrender Fight cancer to the last