It Takes a Village
By Kyle Nichols
Imagine you were told that you needed to come up with thousands of dollars to help your son with his medical needs. Also imagine that this is something that your son needs, not just something that he wants. This is a challenge that someone cannot face on their own: these are things that require a village of people to rally behind you to help with. Lisa M. had her village make this dream become reality for her son, Ben.
Ben’s journey with Savannah began almost two years ago when Lisa went on a mission to find a service dog for her son. Recognizing the potential benefits of a seizure alert dog, Lisa initiated a Facebook campaign to fund the dog’s training. What unfolded was nothing short of a community rallying behind a cause. “We made a Facebook campaign just to try to kickstart the funds for everything,” Lisa said. “Within 24 hours of the campaign being started, however, the dog was fully paid for!” Lisa and Ben truly couldn’t believe how quickly this happened, with Lisa saying, “It just goes to show how loved this boy is.”
If you went back two years ago before Ben had Savannah, life was very different. Ben was diagnosed with seizures at five years old, changing the way he and his mom Lisa go about their lives. “School was the most difficult,” Lisa said. “It was hard to be able to send him without someone to be there to watch him.” This was when Lisa found Eyes, Ears, Nose, & Paws (EENP). This was the organization that matched Ben with Savannah. “EENP helped us immensely through the matching process,” Lisa said. This was where life changed for Ben. Having Savannah as well as a handler for her has been a huge help for Ben’s everyday life. Savannah alerts long before Ben’s seizures appear, giving him and Savannah’s handler time to react.
Now, as Ben approaches the two-year mark with Savannah, the dynamic duo is transitioning from a period of facilitated assistance to greater independence. “Savannah understands social hierarchy,” Lisa said. “Part of the transition has been working with her to understand that Ben is who needs the alerts now.” This shift brings its own set of challenges, as Ben learns to navigate the world while being the one in charge of Savannah. “It’s sort of like (going from) adolescence to adulthood,” Lisa said. The intricate dance between human and service dog requires not only training, but also a deep understanding of each other’s cues and needs.
Ben’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of the human-canine bond. Savannah has become more than just a friend: she is a guardian, a silent protector attuned to Ben’s unique needs. “Savannah has given Ben an added layer of security,” Lisa said. “She has given Ben more confidence.” The story of their partnership is one of resilience, community support, and the unbreakable bond that forms between a person and their loyal companion.
While CDK was not the organization that helped pair Ben with Savannah, it has been the one helping during the transition from facilitated to being independent. “CDK has been amazing!” Lisa said. “They do so much for families…. It’s been a huge support. CDK is a role model to these kids and families.” CDK’s support for Lisa and Ben has helped them immensely through the transition period as well as furthering their understanding about being independent with a service dog.
