Honoring my longtime FA service dog and fundraising for the future

I have started fundraising for my next service dog so Wendy, my current service dog, can retire.

It has not been easy, but I know it’s time. Wendy is always happy to help me, mainly by picking up things I drop, and she is always spot-on in public — except that people pet her. (Note: Please don’t pet a working dog, no matter how cute they are.) But when I open the drawer where her working dog vest is kept, she slinks around the corner.

This is new behavior. She always used to love putting on her vest. She still comes when she’s called and complies with having it put on, of course, but it’s not the same. Her actions tell me she wants to stay at home.

I use a service dog because I have Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and I drop things constantly. I use a wheelchair, and Wendy helps me navigate the world in it by doing things like opening and closing doors.

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Wendy has been an excellent service dog for the past eight years, and I want her to be my service dog forever, but it’s unfair of me to ask her to continue. She has been so generous and kind to me; the least I can do is to make her retirement possible.

Once she retires, we will keep her as a beloved pet, so there’s no need to worry about what will happen to her. Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, the agency from which I obtained her and where I’ll obtain my next dog, will help us support her through the transition from service dog to pet. She will likely visit local retirement homes and schools to provide emotional support as a therapy dog. That will be heavenly for her. She can get all the pats, scratches, and hugs her heart desires as she returns all the love she’s being given.

As a result of all this, I am in fundraising mode, which has not been easy. I don’t like asking people for money, so I’ve been dragging my feet about it. I know it’s for good causes — service dogs and FA research — and the money will help others as well as me, but at the end of the day, it is still my request, and asking for money for charity can feel like begging.

But there are many ways in which it has felt good. I am amazed by the generosity and kindness of others. My friends, family, and acquaintances have made it happen, and because of them, I am oh-so-close to my goal.

Generosity is a powerful force that can profoundly transform lives. When friends extend a helping hand, their support offers me comfort, and the generosity of friends reminds me that I am not alone. I feel closer to them, and my emotional well-being is enriched.

But people I have never met have also contributed significantly, and their generosity has been equally meaningful. When someone I do not know offers help, it reveals the universal human capacity for compassion. They remind me of our shared humanity and inspire me to pay it forward. These moments of kindness leave a lasting impression.

The generosity of friends, family, and strangers reminds me that goodness exists, often when I need it most. I will be able to get the help I need from a new service dog, and my bighearted Wendy can retire. I am so lucky to experience such generosity, and I am slowly but surely getting better at being the gracious recipient of someone’s kindness. So I’ll end this by thanking you, my bighearted readers.

Note: Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Friedreich’s Ataxia News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Friedreich’s ataxia.