My life transformed
Over the last three years, I have found it increasingly difficult to describe myself. Before, it would have been easy for me say that I am a teacher who loves working with people all day and creating beautiful things.
I used to live in a van where I had the privilege of experiencing the joy of camping beside a river every day after work. I loved running, swimming and being outdoors, accompanied by my rescue pup, Fay. Although I had dealt with my fair share of severe health issues in the past, life was good.
Throughout my early twenties, I had been admitted to hospital many times, surviving two life-threatening bouts of sepsis, and the occasional unexplained seizure or trip to the emergency room. I was still operating at what felt like a ‘normal’ pace but, in June 2022, I became bed-bound overnight. All my health issues had culminated over time, and I was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It turns out that I had been dealing with chronic illness for most of my life, and my body just couldn’t keep going.
I moved in with my parents immediately and needed fulltime care. I could no longer do anything for myself besides trips to the bathroom and waking up to eat, but even those activities were extremely difficult. Gone were the days of standing in class all day, followed by a 5km run and swim in the river.
The last three years have been spent in bed. There have luckily been gradual improvements in my health over time and, despite remaining horizontal for most of my time, I am able to carry on conversations with family and friends again, read books and even make art from my bed on my good days.
The decision to apply for a Service Dog came about a year and a half into my illness. I have always adored dogs, and Fay had passed away a few months into my illness. I was craving the companionship and cuddles that come with adopting a furbaby, but I also needed assistance with everyday tasks, and a Service Dog could offer both.
I remember exactly where I was when I got the call that I had been matched with Lizzy. It was the most I had smiled in two years! Lizzy has brought so much joy into my life since then. I met her in May 2024, and we bonded immediately – not a hard thing to do when you are always sitting or lying down, and you meet a dog who prefers to be on top of people, rather than beside them.
Lizzy helps me with my mobility issues by fetching things for me when I am unable to walk or picking things up that I have dropped. She knows to bark for help if I faint or have a seizure and can bring me my phone to call for help. I was receiving fulltime care from my mother, and was unable to live alone, but once Lizzy and I fell into a routine, I was confident that we would be okay living on our own. The independence that she has given me is invaluable.
Lizzy assists me in many ways people might not even think of. The moment I became ill, I was immediately isolated. All social interactions ground to a halt, and the unfortunate truth is that chronically ill people tend to lose most, if not all, of their friendships when becoming disabled. Lizzy is the perfect antidote to this. Her companionship and the physical comfort she brings have cured that isolation.
She also helps me in social situations. I need to use mobility aids when I leave the house, and this can be very difficult to navigate alone when the world is not built accessibly. Lizzy walking comfortably by my side lessens the anxiety that comes with moving through crowds with a wheelchair or walker. Instead of staring at my disability, they lovingly look at the adorable furball at my side. Lizzy also serves as a visual indication that I am someone who needs extra assistance in most situations and has made my interactions with others a lot more fluid. I also find it easier to take on the challenges of navigating with a wheelchair with her as a partner. I can look forward to leaving my home, rather than feeling trapped inside it.
Lizzy has brought me closer to being the person I would have described before my illness. She has brought nature back into my life because of her need to go for walks, and our daily games of fetch. She has brought back friendship and affection, laughter and play. I still hope that my health improves in the future, but Lizzy has made it possible to spend more time enjoying the present.
If you require the assistance of a Service Dog like Lizzy, please contact us at info@guidedog.org.za or on 011 705 3512 or visit our website. (hyperlink https://guidedog.org.za/service-dogs/)
Written by Dominique du Toit