Page 7 - CMTeen_Volume2_Issue1

After three years of waiting, I recently welcomed a handsome,
tennis-ball-loving, 3-year-old Golden Retriever named Whitt into my
family. Whitt was trained by CHAMP Assistance Dogs in St. Louis, Missouri,
and has been in training since he was just a pup.

A little background: I was diagnosed with CMT at a young age. It affects
mainly my legs and feet, making activities like climbing stairs, walking on
uneven surfaces and getting up off the floor difficult. Growing up, I have
been lucky to have great friends, teachers, and family willing to help me
with these activities. However, as I got older and closer to college, I wanted
to be more independent. After some research, my parents and I decided
that a service dog would be a good fit.

I’ve only had Whitt for a short time, but I can already tell he will make a
world of a difference for me. He wears a harness with a handle that I can
hold onto to assist with my balance on uneven surfaces and stairs. He also
can brace his body against mine, allowing me to push off of him to get up
Me and My Service Dog off the floor. He can even pick up items that I drop and carry things for a

short distance.

Having Whitt by my side will give me more confidence to explore and
expand my comfort zone. He may not cure my CMT, but he will eliminate
some of the barriers it creates and allow me to participate more in life. I’m
excited to go out with my friends and not have to worry about keeping up
with them on uneven surfaces. I can’t wait to cross a street and not worry
about falling and not being able to get back up. I’m looking forward to
conquering steps that don’t have railings.

What I’m most excited about, though, is the companionship and partner-
ship we will have. Whitt and I are going to have a special relationship.
He will help take away some of the physical barriers created by CMT and I
will give him my full love, care and companionship. I’m excited about our
future adventures together and can’t wait to experience life with him by
my side.

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