My name is Kristin Livelsberger and my partner is SSD Gannett.
We just completed Team Training in October 2019. It was an intensive three-week
program where Gannett and I trained as a team along with 5 other teams. It was
a valuable, inspiring, and mind-blowing experience! It was amazing to
personally witness the positive impact each dog so quickly had on their
partners in those first three weeks. Susquehanna Service Dogs often says that
they change lives! It sounds dramatic and positive but yet doesn’t even scratch
the surface of what a positive impact a service dog can make in someone's life.
In truth, yes Susquehanna Service Dogs does change lives but in reality, as I
witnessed, they save them!
Here’s my story:
The day I first met Gannett, she literally gave me a hug and
stole my heart. I later found out we were matched. A month and a half later we
were reunited at Team Training. Gannett saw me and got so happy that she gave
me a hug. She remembered me! Gannett and I bonded quickly. We learned how to
work together. I saw huge changes in the other teams during Team Training.
However, it didn’t totally hit me how much the experience changed me until it
was over. I think part of that was because, during Team Training, I was dealing
with some health issues and I worried about whether or not I would get through
and complete the training. The fact that I made it through without having a
major health crisis or hospitalization is truly a testimony to the change that
was starting to happen in my life. It is all because of SSD Gannett!
SSD
Gannett is 100% pure love, joy, positive energy, and motivation! She motivated
me every day! She gave me hope and peace. She distracted me from my pain and
with all the tasks she had learned to do, she made the impossible possible for
me to do! As a result, my confidence grew! My limitations are no longer a
barrier to being more independent. This is huge! To go from being told what is
and isn’t possible for a tetraplegic to do, to being able to do things I was
told I would never be able to do. During Team Training, Gannett and I were
proving them wrong! It was hard to really process all of this at the time.
Since Team Training ended, SSD Gannett has accompanied me to
multiple medical appointments. Having
Gannett with me kept my stress level down, which helped me stay focused and
allowed me to communicate better. SSD Gannett also made it possible to go into
the appointment by myself. Being able to
do things by myself is a huge step forward for me. The other major difference
in having Gannett with me when I am out in public is that, for the first time
in a decade since my spinal cord injury, I feel like I am no longer invisible.
I feel like I’m a part of life again. This sounds strange but for a decade I
have had doors literally slammed on me by people who swore they didn’t see me.
I have had people talk to others around me and never acknowledge that I was
there. This happened so often. This was a very harsh consequence for me, a
super outgoing, fun-loving disabled person, to endure. This left me feeling very
lonely and disconnected from the world. The only exception was the senior
population and children. Now, when I go out, everyone sees me! People smile at
me and make eye contact. Because of SSD Gannett, I exist again. People treat me
like a valued member of the human race!
SSD Gannett has given me the gift of getting my life back and
allowing me to be more independent with my care. As a result, this has given my
family permission to live their lives as well. My daughters whom are both in
college; have both said that they feel relief knowing that Gannett is with me
and they feel less guilty about being away from home. My parents are going out
more and not having to constantly be around to help me. This is very huge! My
family has piece of mind with Gannett near me! She’s able to get help when
necessary and fulfill many tasks that I no longer have to depend on others to
do. SSD Gannett does so much for me and she loves helping and learning new
things. She keeps adding tasks to her list of things she can do. There is so
much possibility now that I have Gannett. She has learned to open doors for me
but in so doing she’s opened the door to reclaiming my life and allowing my
family to do the same.
SSD Gannett is an amazing dog and
there was a lot of time and hours spent training Gannett and cultivating the
motivation and talents that she possesses, making her the awesome incredibly
helpful dog she is today. All the Susquehanna Service Dogs staff, trainers,
puppy raisers, volunteers, and generous donors make all things possible for me
and many others to live full, meaningful, and the most independent lives
possible! Susquehanna Service Dogs is an incredible organization. They have
been wonderful to work with, and all the care and dedication and commitment to
change lives is proved by these remarkable dogs. Thank you for not only
changing lives but saving mine!
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