Doctors and Deers and Sleeping OH MY

This week has been blown by like a tornado and my head is still spinning. Last Friday, Sammy was off school and since I try to avoid scheduling Sam’s doctor’s appointments during his school day he had two scheduled for last Friday. I try to never take Sam out of school for several reasons with the first being that he actually enjoys going to school. Last summer break he actually cried for his van driver, Freda, and stated, “I want to go to school” (note this was a novel statement and a complete sentence). Doctor appointments in the past have been pretty torturous. Sam is a champion fighter, kicker and screamer and he would literally crawl the walls of an exam room even before the doctor came in the room. Sam has never had his blood pressure taken, getting weighed is a crap shoot and a physical exam usually includes two to three of holding him down.

Well this last Friday, Bubbles came with us to our first appointment and I was BLOWN away. So Rachel, Joyce, Sammy, Bubbles and I all went to the first appointment. There was absolutely none of the previous reported problems; Sam occupied himself with feeding Bubbles some treats while we waited. (I would also like to say kudos for Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Pediatric practice; I don’t think we waited for more than a minute in the waiting room or in the exam room.) When the physician entered the exam room, Sammy actually got up on the exam table and laid flat on his back awaiting his physical exam!!! Joyce and I stood there with our mouths open. Sammy allowed a full exam with just a little grimacing.  Rachel also wrote up the experience on her blog as well.

We were not able to take Bubbles into the second doctor visit. They said they have to keep the place hypoallergenic because the physician treats allergies and they have patients with dog allergies. Sammy was actually very calm at the second appointment as well. He really has an aggressive history with this particular physician and always kicked her, even before any exam. (She once yelled very loudly "NO" when he kicked her and it was on since then.) But this visit, there was just the typical trying to keep him distracted and not eloping/escaping. There was no kicking, no hitting, and no crying. Then Sam and Bubbles got to play at the playground after the appointment. Sammy was swinging himself on a horsey swing so high all by himself (he usually needs to be pushed to get going) and he had that magical giggling that is contagious. So nice to see him so happy

Sunday, we decided to get a little exercise and at the same time work on taking Sammy and Bubbles to walk together with numerous distractions. We went to a Chagrin River Park in Willoughby with a nature trail. It’s an interesting place, with a bridge spanning the Chagrin River.

Sammy held onto the handle on Bubbles’ Har-Vest without much prompting, and in spite of numerous distractions, Bubbles walked slowly with the family. Bubbles did begin to suddenly pull hard on the leash and let out a sharp bark. I looked in the direction she was pulling towards and saw a deer running off. Sammy also used the public bathroom at this park as well. It was a nice outing despite the rainy weather, and both Sammy and Bubbles got to burn off some energy.

Sunday night, for the first time in Sammy's five years of life, he went into his own room awake, got in his bed without anyone else with him and fell asleep BY HIMSELF.  Bubbles was in sleeping in the hallway and as soon as Sam settled down she went in his room and now she is sleeping at the foot of his bed.

Sammy now enjoys filling Bubble’s Bob-a-lot (Bubbles’ food dispenser) so much when he gets home from school that it’s almost considered a reward now. He sometimes forgets that he’s filled them that day and tries to refill them when they have already been done. He is almost completely independent with this activity and Joyce says its great to have another 20 minutes to occupy Sam when he gets home from school.  It's also an activity that is great for fine motor skills.  Twisting the lids on and off, putting the morsels of food into the small opening at the top, and manipulating the small doors on the device to keep the food int until it's time to feed Bubbles.

Please consider donating to allow full placement and training of Bubbles for Sammy.

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Sam and Bubbles go to the Beach

Sunday, October 9^th, 2011

Gary here, and better late than never, this is my first entry on the blog.  Our lives are so hectic that it was a rare treat for the four of us – Jessica, Sammy, Bubbles and me – to be able to spend a few hours together outside the house during daylight hours.  We gabbed our juice boxes, peanut butter, veggies and doggie treats, piled in the car and headed east to Lake County.

Sammy has always loved the water.  He was in the ocean at five months, and three years later was frolicking in Lake Erie.  The problem was, he seemed to know no fear in the lake, which he was powerfully drawn to.  It seemed to be another story in swimming pools, where we spent countless hours this summer.  He used to hang on for dear life, until he got used to making his way in the shallow water.  Fortunately, he seemed very wary about going in too deep.  But the lake, for whatever reason, was a different matter.  Being that we live just over 100 yards or so from the lake, and as drowning is the number one cause of death among autistic children, our single biggest need for a service dog was to keep Sam from making a run for the water.

Bubbles seems to be a great match for Sam in so many ways.  So it came as no surprise that she loves the water too.  We thought it would be best to introduce her to the lake without taking Sammy.  Plus, we wanted to discourage Sam from going down there from the house for obvious reasons. The first time we took Bubbles down to the lake, she was very tentative, cautiously dipping a paw in the water and jumping back as if shocked.  Before long though, she was straining at the leash to get in as far as she could go.  She excitedly romped up and down the shore, sniffing around furiously and occasionally stopping to nibble at the carcass of a long dead carp.

So it seemed on this beautiful Fall afternoon that the beach was the perfect place for a little family time.  As we drove east on Route 2, we considered stopping at Mentor Headlands, but decided instead to proceed a little farther to the quaint and likely less crowded village of Fairport Harbor.  It was a good choice, as we practically had the place to ourselves. 

Sam made a beeline for the playground, and busied himself with his favorite routine of carrying handfuls of sand (or mulch or whatever, but in this case sand) up the ladders (no easy trick) and dumping it down the slide.  Jessica, meanwhile, took Bubbles down to the water.

After about 15 minutes, I suggested to Sam that we go see mommy and Bubbles, and without protest he took my hand and we headed toward the water.  This is somewhat significant since Sammy usually puts up a fuss when we leave the playground.  He was interested in the sand and the water, however, and we made our way across the beach to where Jessica had Bubbles jumping around in the water, barking at passing boats, and shaking the water from her coat in torrents.  We all took off our shoes and walked in the shallow water, with Sammy and Bubbles loving it.  Sam took to grabbing handfuls of wet sand, and heaving them into the water.  Bubbles thought Sammy was trying to play catch, and lunged into the water trying to catch the clods of wet sand, occasionally coming up with a mouthful and swallowing it.

We kept Bubbles on her leash, partly because it was probably the law but mostly because we were afraid she might take off.  She was on sensory overload, soaking in the sights, sounds, smells and feel of a new environment.  Yet she adapted to it quickly, and in spite of all the distractions, seemed very protective of Sammy.  She seemed to instinctively know enough to keep in front of Sammy and prevent him from going in too deep.  This was impressive, as she had never been taught this.  She seemed to understand the concept of protecting Sam from possible danger. Even though she doesn’t know how to swim (I suspect she’ll learn that next summer) I got the feeling that had Sam gone into the deep water, she would not have hesitated to go after him.

As the sun set, Sam offered only token resistance as we rinsed off and got into the car to go home.  Both he and Bubbles were well tired and fell asleep early, Bubbles looking fluffier than ever after her bath in Lake Erie. 

Please consider donating to allow full placement and training of Bubbles for Sammy

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Realizations

I realized several months ago that some of the behavioral problems Sammy had were manifestations of boredom, attention seeking, and wanting to escape the given situation.  I knew that Sammy's behavior out of school (Sam attends the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism where he has a very structured and therapeutic education and they have almost no behavior problems with him except some rigidity) was that at home, at the park, at the store or in general with me (or Gary or Joyce).  As he became stronger, faster and more agile we got to the point were we never took Sam anywhere unless the following requirements were met:  the place had to be enclosed, if outside it had to be fenced in.  If we were going to a doctor's appointment or store, two people had to go.  We had to take a camping potty because Sam refuses to use public bathrooms.  It got to a point where Sammy's only activities were school, doctor's appointments and backyard play.  We did take Sammy to the local Euclid pool almost daily this summer, but it was still a headache every time.  Sammy was not appropriate with the other children.  He would hit or bite other children which required an immediate "go home" after any biting or hitting.  He would run off into the lifeguards office (If there is place that is off limits, Sam will find it) and have a meltdown during the allotted hourly pool break.  And every time it was time to go home it was a wrestling match to get him in his car seat. 

So here we were before Bubbles came, Sam would come home from school, go to his backyard and play by himself for hours.  But hey, he was happy and, mostly, out of trouble (until he starting eating sand and dirt).  I remember telling Gary that we had to do something, that although it was so much easier for us, that Sammy was getting more and more isolated and slipping into his autistic world.

So as of lately our lives are a little upside down as we have been taking Sammy to some outing almost daily.  Sunday morning we took him to the park and it was just so much easier.  Bubbles just kind of followed him wherever he went.  He did not try to run off and it was easier getting him back in the car when it was time to go.  He still resisted, but it was not a wrestling match.  In fact, it has not been a wrestling match at all when Bubbles goes with us, just a little bit of protest and some pulling as we walk to the car, but no kicking, hitting, or squirming out of the seat.

Sunday afternoon Sammy and I took Bubbles to her old home where she got to play with some old friends for a DIP (Drop In Play).  Something new I have learned is that dogs need to play and interact with other dogs to be properly and holistically socialized, (I've been having a lot of ah-ha moments lately.)  Some amazing things happened on this outing.  First, Sammy had no fear or anxiety and played on the playground and in the yard with several dogs off leash playing and barking around him.  Second, we got to see first hand and Rachel Friedman, owner of A Better Pet, LLC, dog and people trainer expert, got some great video how the bond has developed between Bubbles and Sam. 

Lastly, Monday evening, Gary, Joyce, Sammy, Bubbles and I went to our group dog training class given by Rachel Friedman.  Sam had a great time and several great moments happened again.  First, Sammy got to see his beloved Sophie (I write about Sammy's connection with Sophie here) again, and I have no idea how, but Sophie got Sam to sit with her for at least thirty minutes while I was learning how to work with Bubbles.  Second, Sammy played basketball in the gym where we were training, with several dogs off leash during dog play, without fear or anxiety.  He even approached and pet another dog appropriately. 

Lastly, but not least.  Gary was able to take Sammy and USE A PUBLIC BATHROOM without any hesitation.  This is huge, Sammy has a huge fear of public bathrooms.  And I mean, crawling up my back, heart thumping through his chest, white as a ghost fear.  I'm so thrilled and excited and can't even think of the possibilities to come.


Please consider donating to allow full placement and training of Bubbles for Sammy

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Observations

Gary must be more intuitive than I give him credit for.  Yesterday, he took Sam and Bubbles to a big fenced-in football field, harnessed Bubbles to Sam's waist an let them run wild.  This is something Rachel had suggested to Joyce and I the night before when Gary was not present (However I don't think she said to harness them together).  They both came back full of mud and wet.  Apparently both had a blast and just ran wild.  I wish I had some pictures or video but we're supposed to try it again this morning so I can see.

This morning Sam was up at 5 AM again (for the third time this week, with his usual wake up time at 7 AM).  Joyce got up with Sam and Bubbles and I decided to take advantage and slept in this Sunday morning.  When I woke up later, Joyce said Sammy had been playing very nicely with his puzzles.  This is another activity that he has previously enjoyed, but had not wanted to participate in lately.  Sam also has been enjoying his "dot to dot" workbooks too (an activity he used to love, but could not do lately until Rachel and Sophie came for training on Friday). Is this a coincidence that his concentration, impulsiveness and ability to stay on task have improved this weekend?  I think not.

Please consider donating to allow full placement and training of Bubbles for Sammy

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Bubbles' progress = Sammy's progress

October 1, 2011 at 2:10 PM





Yesterday’s training session was amazing. There was so much progress in such a short period of time. Rachel Friedman, dog and people behavioral expert (in additon to being a licenced social worker) and her daughter Sophie came to the house for a private training session.  Sammy is very endeared to Sophie and truely responds to her spirit.

Sophie, Sammy and Bubbles

 I am amazed at how Rachel is able to accomplish so much in so little time. Sophie was able to model how to play with Bubbles, and before we knew it, Sammy, Sophie and Bubbles were all together in Bubbles’ crate. It was so exciting to see Sammy playing fetch and chase with Bubbles. I also had the pleasure of seeing Sammy interacting with Sophie appropriately (mostly).

Our upcoming goals are to go to a public place such as a mall with both Sam and Bubbles. Bring Bubbles to Sam’s water therapy session, and eventually to Sammy’s doctors appointment and even his school (possibly in winter).



Last evening after the session, Joyce Sammy, Bubbles and I all packed up and took a trip to get a bite to eat. Bubbles sat right next to Sam with her head next to his and Sammy petted her very nicely. Sam fell asleep in the car ride home which also shows how much more relaxed he is around Bubbles now. When we got home he was so tired he could hardly walk to his bed. I’m also happy (and a little sad) to report that Bubbles’ has moved her sleep spot at night from my bedroom to in the hallway in between Sam’s bedroom and my bedroom. It is sooo amazing how she just knows when the time is right and what she is supposed to do.



Also, this morning I was awakened when Bubbles came into my room whining at me. My initial thoughts were she is probably hungry or needs to potty and I closed my eyes just to catch a couple more winks before I got up. As I came to, I realized that I heard Sammy speaking to himself and I realized he was not in his room. I got up and went out find him on top of the refrigerator and a pint of ice cream, unopened, still frozen (it must not have been long at all) on the floor. GREAT JOB BUBBLES!!!!!


Please consider donating to allow full placement and training of Bubbles for Sammy

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Autism Service Dog for Sam

This is Sammy. 

Sammy is a five-year old boy who has autism.  Sam loves the outdoors, running, swimming, playing in the mud and basketball.  Sammy also enjoys trips to his Grandma and Grandpa’s farm.  Sam enjoys attending school at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism.  Sam is moderately affected by his Autism; he is an escape/flight risk everywhere we go.  We have had a few “close calls” where he did get away, but thankfully only for a few moments.  Sam has no sense of danger, poor impulse control, and problems with sleeping, anxiety, rigidity and limited language abilities.  Sam loves to climb and is very agile.  We fear that he will soon be able to climb the six-foot privacy fence in our backyard.

An Autism Service Dog can be trained specifically for Sam’s needs.  For example, alert us to Sam’s attempts to leave or escape.  We can attach Sam with a special harness to keep him from running off.  A service dog can be trained to track Sam if he ever runs away.   We believe the dog will bring him comfort to help him sleep through the night, help to calm him down during stressful visits to doctors and encourage socialization.  We need to raise 15,000 to help fund the placement and training of the Autism Service Dog, Bubbles.  Donations can be made via PayPal to Samuel’s Autism Service Dog Fund.   

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Here is an email I sent to a local Cleveland dog trainer and behavioral expert, Rachel Friedman with A Better Pet, LLC (she is also a licensed social worker with a clinical background) when I heard that she may have a dog available for Sam.

Hello Rachel,

My name is Jessica Glowacki.  I have a five-year son, Samuel (Sammy), who has autism.  Sam is a very active boy who loves the outdoors, water-play, playing in his sandbox in the backyard and really loves mud-play.  He enjoys trips to Grandma's and Grandpa's farm where he gets to run around and ride his bike. Sam also likes to run away and has gotten away a few times.

I read a posting from Michelle O'Neil on the Northeast Ohio Autism yahoo group and we are very interested in Bubbles.  We have been contemplating a service dog for some time.  Sammy really needs a companion as his only current companions are grown adults.  He attends the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism and has limited language skills.  He has no siblings and I work full-time as a RN at the Children's Hospital at Cleveland Clinic.  Sammy's father, Gary and his aunt, "Auntie Joyce" live in the home with Sammy.

I read your website and blog about bubbles and thought Bubbles would be a perfect fit for Sam.  I'm attaching a couple of pictures of Sammy.  As you can see, he is a blond too and I think they look like the perfect match.  When reading a passage in a breed dog book it mentioned how "Golden Retriever's are an exuberant breed with a sense of humor, can't resists splashing about in water and carpets the house with mud and golden hairs" I couldn't help but think, "That sounds like Sam".  We have a nice fenced in back yard on a quiet street with a lake view.  We do not have any other pets and Sam has never had any pets in the past.  Sammy is very excited when he sees a dog and loves to point them out in the car, but he is a little apprehensive when up close to a dog.

You may contact me at this email jessidobb@yahoo.com.  We would love to hear from you to further discuss this further.

Sincerely,
Jessica Glowacki

Rachel contacted me and we arranged for a visit in our home.  In the following link Rachel writes about the first visit and placement.






We are trying to raise funds to allow us full placement with continued training.  Please donate if able.

Thanks,
Jessica

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