Learning to Walk

Editor's Note: This has to be one of the most exciting and thrilling days of my life. This actually happened on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at The School for Children and it the best Christmas gift I could have ever wished for! I hope you enjoy the magic of this story as much as I enjoyed being a part of it!

Hey everyone, it's me Tilly and boy oh boy do I have a great tale to share with you today! Alison and I went about our normal routine for a Thursday morning: I woke up and had my breakie...or as you would call it breakfast, and it was delicious! Alison packed up my supplies to go to The School for Children: water, treats, and baby wipes to keep me clean and fresh! Before we could leave for school we went outside so that I could do my morning business and the cold air hit me straight in the snout and boy did it feel good. Alison was moving fast and I was trying to keep up but as you know I am a bulldog and my legs are on the short side and it is still morning so I was still a bit sleepy. Within a few seconds of being in the winter breeze I was awake and feeling good. After Alison gave me a good brushing and a final wipe down I jumped into the car and we were off to visit my special friends at school. I love going to school. Walking the halls and getting pets, hugs, and sometimes a smooch from everyone! I hear kids sometimes complain about school, but I just do not get what the fuss is about, this place is great. I went about my normal routine and went to our first class. Everyone was in great spirits and full of love. I think all of the kids and the teachers were getting excited for their holiday break, though I was a bit sad about them going on break because that means I do not get to see them for three weeks...humpf. After my first classroom Alison and I said our good-byes and wished everyone a happy holiday and off we went to our next class... this is where our adventure begins! I walked into the second classroom and all of the kids were so excited to see me. I got a ton of hugs and everyone was reaching out to grab my leash because they all wanted to be the first to walk with me down the hallways. (Editor's Note: In this classroom the children walk Tilly up and down the hallways to strengthen their muscles, train them to focus on a particular task, and to also make them pay attention to what is in front of them. These seem like simple things but to these children it is very strenuous and it takes a lot of energy to keep their focus on accomplishing these assignments.) The first to take me for a walk was my friend Johnny. He was so excited when we walked into the classroom that he scooted over to his apparatus and was trying to lift himself into it so that he could walk me. My heart was swelling and I know that Alison was definitely feeling it too, because she walked over and helped Johnny get into his device and handed him the leash so that he could be first. Johnny's device is a bit tricky to maneuver and hold a leash, but he had so much determination that he would not allow us to help. If the leash got caught up in his equipment he would stop and get readjusted and then start wheeling again. It was amazing to see him multi-task, in fact it was incredible! We walked the halls and then headed back to the classroom. Alison and I took each of the kids out and walked with them up and down, to and fro. Then when we got back my friend Jessie was waiting for us. Jessie does not usually walk with me for numerous reasons but the most important one is because he can not walk and is usually in physical therapy when we come to his classroom. Today Jessie was standing up with the teacher and reaching out for my leash. So I walked over to him and the teacher told us that we are going to try and get Jessie to take a few steps on his own; as he has been working toward standing and walking in therapy, but has not quite been able to balance himself and walk on his own. So I walked a few steps ahead of Jessie and the teacher was holding him up from behind and Jessie was walking, and walking, and walking. Then it happened, the teacher tripped and let go of Jessie and Jessie took four, yes four, steps on his own! Well the teacher let out a scream and I stopped dead in my tracks. I did not know what had happened but I knew to stay still if there was a problem, and because of the scream I thought there was a problem. But nope, no problem here!!! The teacher was yelling to all of the aides and nurse, "Did you see that? Did you see that? Jessie took his first steps!" So everyone started cheering and I was wiggling my bum and bobbing my head. We were so excited and so was Jessie. The teacher asked Jessie if he wanted to do it again and he motioned that he did and then he stood up on his own while holding the leash without using his hands. Another triumph for Jessie! Everyone started hooting and hollering again and Jessie was getting fired up. After a minute to calm down we then got situated. I was out front, Jessie was holding my leash, and the teacher was holding Jessie. Then as we started to walk everything seemed balanced and calm, so the teacher let Jessie go and away we went. Jessie and I were walking around and around. If I felt his weight pull back, I pulled forward; if I felt his weight shift forward I stopped walking until he balanced again. We were working as a team and it was working. Jessie took 40 steps around the room. It was amazing and luckily the teacher had pulled her video camera out so that when Jessie started walking on his own she could video each and every step! Now his family could see his first steps on his own and be a part of this amazing victory. After Jessie lost his balance and dropped to the floor we all were screaming and shouting, "Hooray, Hooray for Jessie!" Jessie was clapping and had a smile that reached across his face! It made all of us so happy! It was now time for Alison and I to leave and say our good-byes, which we did. But this time we were leaving with a huge gift and sense of accomplishment! It is great to be me, it is great to be a therapy dog, it it just GREAT!!!! Be well, and sending you all big bully love, Tilly.

Happy Holidays to everyone and remember to take a moment and reflect on all of the important people and things in your life!

Stay tuned because Tilly has been doing some traveling and she can't wait to tell you where she has been!