May 31, 2022 | Accessibility, Disabilitiy, Dogs, faith, Friends, Independence, Uncategorized, Wheelchair |
Any joyful spirit I would usually have on Christmas Eve morning was lost on me that year as I waited for news I knew I probably didn’t want to hear. Tightness squeezed a shallow breath out of my chest as I heard the raspiness in Dr. Tom’s voice through the phone. The...
Dec 31, 2019 | Dogs, Facing a fear, Grief, service dogs |
I have some thoughts about the coming decade, but I could not solidify them enough to make them into a post. So, stay tuned for that. 🙂 For now, the following is my latest submission to Chicken Soup for the Soul. The theme of the book is self-care. I know that July...
May 15, 2019 | Dogs, service dogs |
It was a typical weekday evening, after dinner, and I was in my office doing some writing when the phone rang. “Lorraine, this is Tom Leibl.” I could hear the smile in his voice, which was matched by my own. My vet is one of my favorite people. “Hey Dr. Tom, what’s...
Apr 16, 2018 | caregivers, communication, Disabilitiy, Dogs, service dogs |
I first heard of the concept from my mom, who was raised in Ireland as a young girl. She told me that when people there were hiring a new housekeeper to clean their home, one of the things they would do was put a broom in the doorway. It was kind of a test. If a...
Nov 22, 2016 | communication, Disabilitiy, Dogs, Get To Know Me |
I’ve always liked the concept behind nicknames. That certain people call you names different than you were given at birth, out of love and affection. I’ve had plenty over the years. Some are embarrassing from when I was small. Nope, not even going there. They are...
Nov 24, 2015 | can do, Dogs, Fundraisers, GoFundMe campaign, how to help, medical emergencies, smart dogs |
Leah always sees the best in people. Whoever she encounters she approaches with her tail wagging, as if to say “Hi, I’m Leah. Can we be friends?” It is simple, direct, and works like magic. I have never seen anyone meet Leah who doesn’t eventually adore her. ...
