Post by Paul on Dec 26, 2004 17:17:32 GMT 9.5
WENDY, JOSEPH & BRIGID
Most of us blissfully travel life's path with little or no comprehension of the struggle some have to endure every single day. It could be a friend, a neighbour or a total stranger that each day battles to lead what you and I would call a normal life.
In my search for indispensable dogs I paid a visit to Wendy White of Goolwa who lives with her husband Joseph and Therapy Dog, Brigid. Wendy suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, and illness that attacks the nervous system interfering with messages from the brain to various parts of the body.
Wendy was diagnosed with MS in 1982 but she now realizes that she was suffering from the symptoms for years before.
Suffering pain in her arms she was told that she had tendernitis then when beginning to fall over, it was an inner-ear infection. Complaining to one doctor of a variety of symptoms, he basically implied she had a mental illness, telling her, "It's all in your head".
Living in a Queensland caravan park, she daily would visit the van of a friend for morning coffee. The trip used to take a minute but as her illness progressed the journey could extend any time up to ten minutes. Wendy knew where she wanted to go but her brain would send confused messages to her legs and she would often find herself travelling in a different direction to that intended. Wendy remarked that it was a good job that she had a sense of humour and was able to laugh at her bodies antics.
One morning the telephone rang her awake and she got out of bed a little too quickly. It was a prospective new client who was ringing about goods that she wanted Wendy's husband, Joseph, to transport. To Wendy's horror, her speech formation had been affected and while she knew what she wanted to say the words came out slurred and malformed. The caller accused Wendy of being drunk at eight in the morning and while Wendy attempted to explain her problem, slammed the phone down.
Wendy, with Joseph in his new roll as carer decided to retire to the South Australian country town of Minlayton but almost as they arrived the local doctor was moving out and the local hospital was preparing to close down.
Around this time Brigid, a Papillon, came into their lives and she obviously had a great deal to do with slowing down the attacks that Wendy suffers. Brigid is not a trained Therapy Dog but then again, most Therapy dogs don't have to be. The dog has a natural empathy for the sick and injured, even more so if their master or mistress is involved.
According to my database, the Papillon is described as follows:
From France
Hardy, energetic little dog. Enjoys company of children loves to hunt and chase vermin. Very lively and loves company.
Height 20 to 28cm Weight 3kg.
Ideal family dog requires exercise, not suitable for elderly.
In essence the database is correct because Brigid was full of life and with energy to spare. I was greeted by Brigid with an enthusiastic display of welcome but I had to sit on the lounge before she would jump up and let me pat her.
There is no doubt that Brigid plays an important part in the lives of Wendy and Joseph. The dog seems to sense when Wendy is due for an attack and will not leave her side, except for making Joe aware of Wendy's condition.
The love all three have for each other is obvious, each depending on the other in a three way relationship. Through Brigid, Wendy and Joseph are able to focus on something more than Wendy's illness, the happiness and comfort of a little scrap of dogmanity provides a pleasing distraction from the woe's of real life. In return Brigid gives back all the love and affection her little heart can hold, as loving and caring as any child could be.
The benefits that Brigid impart to Wendy and to a lesser extent Joseph, are immeasurable. A dog as therapy has more positive effective healing in their little body than many people would readily admit. Is it however the touching and the caring for those dogs that helps, or is it the constant flow of unconditional love from our canine friends that makes us feel so much better when they're around?
©Paul Springthorpe, Media Production Services. Extracted from ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ 1990. All rights reserved.
Most of us blissfully travel life's path with little or no comprehension of the struggle some have to endure every single day. It could be a friend, a neighbour or a total stranger that each day battles to lead what you and I would call a normal life.
In my search for indispensable dogs I paid a visit to Wendy White of Goolwa who lives with her husband Joseph and Therapy Dog, Brigid. Wendy suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, and illness that attacks the nervous system interfering with messages from the brain to various parts of the body.
Wendy was diagnosed with MS in 1982 but she now realizes that she was suffering from the symptoms for years before.
Suffering pain in her arms she was told that she had tendernitis then when beginning to fall over, it was an inner-ear infection. Complaining to one doctor of a variety of symptoms, he basically implied she had a mental illness, telling her, "It's all in your head".
Living in a Queensland caravan park, she daily would visit the van of a friend for morning coffee. The trip used to take a minute but as her illness progressed the journey could extend any time up to ten minutes. Wendy knew where she wanted to go but her brain would send confused messages to her legs and she would often find herself travelling in a different direction to that intended. Wendy remarked that it was a good job that she had a sense of humour and was able to laugh at her bodies antics.
One morning the telephone rang her awake and she got out of bed a little too quickly. It was a prospective new client who was ringing about goods that she wanted Wendy's husband, Joseph, to transport. To Wendy's horror, her speech formation had been affected and while she knew what she wanted to say the words came out slurred and malformed. The caller accused Wendy of being drunk at eight in the morning and while Wendy attempted to explain her problem, slammed the phone down.
Wendy, with Joseph in his new roll as carer decided to retire to the South Australian country town of Minlayton but almost as they arrived the local doctor was moving out and the local hospital was preparing to close down.
Around this time Brigid, a Papillon, came into their lives and she obviously had a great deal to do with slowing down the attacks that Wendy suffers. Brigid is not a trained Therapy Dog but then again, most Therapy dogs don't have to be. The dog has a natural empathy for the sick and injured, even more so if their master or mistress is involved.
According to my database, the Papillon is described as follows:
From France
Hardy, energetic little dog. Enjoys company of children loves to hunt and chase vermin. Very lively and loves company.
Height 20 to 28cm Weight 3kg.
Ideal family dog requires exercise, not suitable for elderly.
In essence the database is correct because Brigid was full of life and with energy to spare. I was greeted by Brigid with an enthusiastic display of welcome but I had to sit on the lounge before she would jump up and let me pat her.
There is no doubt that Brigid plays an important part in the lives of Wendy and Joseph. The dog seems to sense when Wendy is due for an attack and will not leave her side, except for making Joe aware of Wendy's condition.
The love all three have for each other is obvious, each depending on the other in a three way relationship. Through Brigid, Wendy and Joseph are able to focus on something more than Wendy's illness, the happiness and comfort of a little scrap of dogmanity provides a pleasing distraction from the woe's of real life. In return Brigid gives back all the love and affection her little heart can hold, as loving and caring as any child could be.
The benefits that Brigid impart to Wendy and to a lesser extent Joseph, are immeasurable. A dog as therapy has more positive effective healing in their little body than many people would readily admit. Is it however the touching and the caring for those dogs that helps, or is it the constant flow of unconditional love from our canine friends that makes us feel so much better when they're around?
©Paul Springthorpe, Media Production Services. Extracted from ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ 1990. All rights reserved.
