Teen with spina bifida and service dog walk a path to independence

If picture is worth a thousand words, then how much is this picture worth? For Debbie Paul, who received the above photo in a text from her son, it is priceless. “It was a turning point in my mind,” she says. That turning point took place on July 7, nearly two weeks following her son Adam’s graduation as a service-dog handler. Adam, who is 14, going on 15, has spina bifida, a birth defect that involves the incomplete closure of the spinal cord. He was profiled in an October 2015, Boston Children’s Hospital Thriving blog. Euro is Adam’s mobility-service dog, companion and what Adam calls his “counter balance.” “She helps me stay steady,” he says. “She walks with me on my left-hand side and keeps my same pace. It’s a lot easier walking with her than without her.” Because of spina bifida, Adam can’t feel his feet or even a significant portion of his legs. Walking is a challenge. “A doctor once told me a walk around the block for Adam is like walking a 5K,” Debbie says. “It takes that much endurance, and he expends that much energy. So when Adam informed his mom, he’d like to take Euro on a walk to the lake, she said, “OK, let me grab my shoes.” Adam went from needing his mom with him to take a walk, to an average teenager just going for a stroll with his dog. Euro has given him a huge first step towards independence. Adam reassured her, “It’s okay, Mom. I’ve got my cell phone. We’ll just go.” The wal...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Center for Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Conditions service dog Spina Bifida Center Source Type: news