vDENNISON continued from page 21
in his wellness,” said Dennison. “They
truly are best friends. Johnnie is a great
companion for Benjamin in addition
to being a service dog. (Benji) is a very
social boy who unfortunately misses
school frequently due to his medical
conditions. (Johnnie) provides him with
affection and reassurance.”
That need for the other’s presence is
equally as strong for Johnnie. The family
has witnessed how difficult it is for
Johnnie when Benji has been hospitalized
and the two aren’t able to be together.
“We have witnessed Johnnie experience
periods of what appears to be depression when Benjamin has been
hospitalized for lengthy periods of time,” said Dennison.
When Johnnie and Benji are reunited, their bond is evident.
“Johnnie has a hard time being a service dog when she visits Benji
in the hospital because she gets so excited to visit him,” said Dennison.
“Luckily, the children’s hospital that we use is happy to accommodate
her and she is able to visit frequently. I believe that Johnnie is his
(Benji’s) favorite visitor.
As Benji has grown older, some of his medical needs have become
easier to manage for both his parents and Johnnie.
“Benji has transitioned to an insulin pump that is more advanced
in its ability to detect and treat blood sugar variations,” said Dennison.
“This means less work for us as parents, less work for Johnnie, and
more time for Benji and Johnnie to just be buddies.”
After seven years together, Johnnie, Benji and the rest of the
Dennison family are like a well-oiled machine. While Johnnie always
has the option of undergoing additional training, Dennison said they
don’t feel it’s necessary. In fact, Dennison added, Johnnie’s training as
an alert dog is so well honed that she has used her abilities to try to
help others. That became evident at a doctor’s appointment for Benji.
“I was horrified once at a clinic appointment several years ago when
she would not leave a doctor alone,” Dennison recalled. “This was very
unlike her. She was not only pawing at him but also jumped on his lap.
Her behavior got progressively worse before the doctor confided that
he is diabetic and had skipped lunch. I ended up sending her (Johnnie)
out of the room with Benji’s nurse
while the doctor excused himself for a
few minutes.
Now that Johnnie is nine years
old, Dennison is looking ahead to the
reality that Johnnie will not always
be by Benji’s side as his diabetes alert
dog.
“We’ve started to look into
options for a service dog for when
Johnnie ‘retires,’” said Dennison. “She’s
showing some minimal signs of aging
at this point, so it’s not something we
are actively pursuing yet.”
Benji, Isaac, and Will Dennison Since the Dennison’s brought
Johnnie home, the service dog
industry has greatly expanded. With that expansion comes the risk
of having a service dog that may not be as well trained as Johnnie.
Dennison and her husband are looking into their options, including
organizations in Minnesota and Utah. They are also considering an
option even closer to home.
“My husband and I have considered training Benji’s next service
dog ourselves as we have learned so much from Johnnie’s trainers and
also from Johnnie,” said Dennison.
Dennison feels hopeful for Benji’s immediate future and for the
years ahead.
“His diabetes is currently managed well with a closed loop insulin
pump and continuous glucose monitoring,” said Dennison. “As he has
gotten older, technology has caught up to his complex needs and we’re
hopeful that his future will include an artificial pancreas.”
Dennison also believes that Johnnie’s impact on Benji’s life will stay
with him well into adulthood.
“I can see Benji choosing to continue to have a service dog as an
adult in order to live independently,” said Dennison. “As parents, we
want him to be able to go to college, date and pursue his interests just
like we want for any of our children. He’s an intelligent young man
who has a lot to offer to the world, and I believe that as an adult, having
a service dog will reduce barriers for him.”
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22vHERVOICEvJANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018