16th October to 18th October 09:00

I am able to watch T.V and read Books and give commands to my Canine Partner Nutmeg (essential)

I'm Miss Chatterbox, singing Won't shut up 

I have a Canine Partner called Nutmeg this is my life before Nutmeg.  I have Secondary progressive Multiple Scerosis and a neck, back and hip injury.  Due to the M.S I in 2007 lost the ability to walk and became wheelchair bound.  I found Canine Partners at Crufts and spotted a stand with dogs doing amazing things like picking things up of the floor handing a purse to a cashier various everyday tasks like putting the washing in and out the washing machine.  These were things I use to take for granted and now was frustrated and upset I could no longer do.  I got a form at the show and filled it in and drove down to Canine Partners Head office in Heyshott West Sussex. 

I had not been out the house alone for 10 years alone I always had to be with someone, this was due to lack of confidence due to a past relationship!!  I met my husband in 2007 in the November and he supported me with getting a I Canine Partner, I heard from Canine Partners in 2009 and the letter was as good as winning the lottery I had been accepted for an assistance dog.

I had a lot of work to do on the house and back garden to prepare to bring a dog home and it had to be safe.  Canine Partners said they will leave it to me to call them as I was at the top of the list.  My husband and I went home and he worked so hard to get all jobs completed. This was completed late 2010.   

I rang Canine Partners and had a list of words set out these were commands you use with an assistance dog.  I learnt them and remembered as many as I could..  I worked with various dogs to get the feel of it I had a great day and I could start to see daylight at the end of my dark tunnel,  Then we went into 2011 I got a letter asking me to go down to Heyshott to be tried and matched with a dog.  I went and as soon as I walked into the room there was loads of dogs round the outside of a huge room BUT one caught me eye this chocci Lab I winked at her and she winked back instantly I said to Stephen I want that dog,  We had to work with about 6 but the first one I asked to work with was the chocci lab we worked so well with each other I worked with others but it was the chocci Lab I had my heart set on.  You go home not knowing who your going to have.

They rang us and said we have match you with Nutmeg this brown chocci Lab do we want her for a weekend and see how we feel, Stephen instantly said yes without asking me he knew my answer.  He told me I just cried my dream came true.  We had a lovely weekend and it was 100% I was having this dog Nutmeg.  You go on an intensive two week residential course with you match aka Nutmeg.

When it come to bringing her home my mum had a mini stroke she was due to collect our stuff.  With fear set in we rushed home to be with mum when you get home you are to let the dog settle in and find their bearings.  We sat with mum all day and she was getting worse I went home with a dream and  told at the hospital mum wasn't expected to make it so went home with a nightmare and a dream. I talked with Nutmeg that night and I cried into her tummy and she comforted me.  Next morning we had a phone call to go to ITU and I went and sat with mum leaving Nutmeg in the waiting room, Mum was starting to look better she had made it through the night.  I was amazed at this and that was my wish and dream so Mum was getting better throughout the day and we were told she would be fine so within 48 hours both of my dreams had come true I had Nutmeg home and my Mum was okay. 

Now Nutmeg is my best friend, my soul mate and we do everything together and she gets me out of the house alone, now we walk everywhere, do talks with children and adults and I work with a gentleman from 3M who sponsor Nutmeg for me. 

Nutmeg does various jobs around the house, raises an alarm for help, gets the phone, the post, gets anyone from outside by opening the door getting them and shutting the door behind them, gets items of selves when shopping and paying at the end using my purse to give to the cashier and then getting it and giving back to me.  She knows when I am ill and lays with me, all the jobs you can think of that I cannot do but mainly she bought me out of my shell and gave me a life I had lost in my late teens. 

Please can you donate for my silence without the use of technology as I owe Canine Partners and Nutmeg everything. 

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