Declan’s Diary, August 2009

August was an amazing month for Declan (despite all the bad weather) team ‘Harley’ qualified as an accredited assistance dog team! This was a massive achievement and involved Harley competently picking up dropped items, walking along side the wheelchair, taking Declan’s socks off and sitting nicely in Rays Tray whilst we indulged in cake and drinks. 
We were asked questions about the safety and welfare of a Dog for the Disabled assistance dog and Declan managed to answer all the questions without any help from me.  Harley is now a real part of the family and is an absolute pleasure to have around.
The Team at Dogs for the Disabled are delighted that Alexandra, Declan and Harley have now qualified as an assistance dog team. We hope that the team will continue to develop, with Harley providing more support to Declan as their partnership grows.  It is amazing to see what difference an assistance dog can make, not only in practical terms, but also to the confidence and self-esteem of our clients and their family.  We wish them the best of luck in the future and look forward to working with them, Allie Hogsbjerg, Communications Officer, Dogs for the Disabled.
We are still £3000 away from Declan’s dream trip to Australia, we are now hoping to go in November so that we can have our Halloween fund raising disco as it has raised quite a lot of money over the past two years.
Declan continues to be very brave despite the fact it seems like his world is falling apart at the moment. At the end of August we are going to Norfolk with Duchenne Family Support group and are staying in a fully adapted cottage, which will be lovely. There will be ten cottages all with at least one boys with Duchennes, I am hoping that Declan might find some comfort in meeting others who have the same horrible condition as him as he is now aware of the full prognosis, there is nothing to hide from him anymore.