My guide dog, Ishka

Since I qualified as a guide dog owner and Ishka as a guide dog on the 26th June 2012, a whole new world  has opened up for me — Ishka goes  everywhere with me , we explore the environment, go shopping, visit friends and relatives and go for leisurely walks ─ she loves going to Holmebrook Valley Country Park. We travel on the public transport but I have not been on a train with her yet but will do one day. Ishka has given me the freedom to go out to different places on my own and she has given me back my confidence, dignity and zest for life. My life with Ishka is so much better now because I have only had one fall since we have been together and that was my fault.

First day-Guide Dog Training Course at Nottingham

The first day was about orientation regarding the layout of the hotel. It looked relatively easy to navigate as the corridors as they were long and straight, lined with doors on both sides but I did notice that in the area between the two fire doors where the three hotel rooms of Simon, Kevin and my hotel room were situated the light was dimmer than the bottom half of the corridor. I navigated my way down and up the corridors by walking alongside the wall with my finger or hand on the wall and feeling my way to my hotel room by counting the doors as I walked by.  My hotel room was at one end and the lounge was at the other end of the corridor on the opposite side, both between two fire doors. I was very surprised to find that I had difficulties in locating the lounge and my hotel room in what should have been an easy task and there were times when I got exasperated however with some help from my instructor, I was eventually able to navigate my way around the corridor and only occasionally got it wrong.

Later in the day, we attended our first talk in the lounge. The instructor gave each of us a bag containing some equipment and asked us to empty the bag and she then told us what to feel for ─ the first thing that we had to feel for was the harness and then we were shown how to handle the harness. Other pieces of equipment were a lead that is used when walking with the dog when not in harness, in other words when it is not working. There were two collars, one of the collars had two bells on it and is regarded as a play collar. The second collar was for when the dog was working and finally a feeding whistle and grooming kit.  This was followed by a discussion of the Guide Dog Agreement.

I nearly had a guide dog!

A Guide Dog Mobility Instructor visited me at home and we did a short handle walk, the handle being a shorter version of the handle used on a guide dog harness. I held one end while the instructor held the other, we started walking with the instructor walking slightly ahead of me winding from one side to the other until we reached the end of our road then we stopped at the kerb, this was followed by more tests. They needed to find out what sort of person I was and to obtain information that would help them to decide what sort of dog would be suitable for me. Eventually, I received a letter informing me that I had been put on the waiting list for a Guide Dog. The hunt was now on to find a dog with the appropriate physical and temperamental characteristics to match my special needs

About nine months later, I received a phone call from Guide Dogs informing me that they believe they have found a potential guide dog for me and arrangements were made for the Guide Dog Instructor to bring the dog to my home to see if we would be a successful match.  I will call him “K”, he was black, a cross Labrador and golden retriever and he was a lovely and a handsome dog. I liked him and knew that he was the one for me and now it was time for us all to go for a walk. This was the first time that I walked with a guide dog, I really could not concentrate as I was  so excited and thrilled to meet the chosen dog and there was so many things that I had to think about.  We took “K” home to meet my husband, Ronald. The Guide dog instructor told me that “K” would be anxious and possibly nervous because he did not really understand what was happening. She described to me how he may react and you know that is exactly what he did but after a few minutes he introduced himself to my husband who returned the favour and then” K” came and sat next to me. He was so lovely and I knew that he was the dog for me but it was not until the next day that I was told that he would be my guide dog.

The training was due to start on 18^th October 2010 but before then during a visit to the surgery my world collapsed because I was told that I needed to go into the hospital for an operation. I told my guide dog trainer and she explained that I would have to give up “K”, I knew this because I was told that it would be at least three months before I would be fit again; life can be so cruel.

An appointment was made for me to see a consultant on 28^th October 2010 and it was confirmed that I would need an operation which was arranged for 21^st December but luck was on my side because the following Monday, I was told that they had a cancellation and did I want it. I went to the hospital for an assessment on 3^rd November and had the operation on the 4^th of November, I was well looked after and the nursing staff and medical staff were made aware of my disabilities and I returned home the following Monday and about four months later I informed Guide Dogs that I was fit again; a few weeks later I was back on the waiting list.

 I am still waiting for the call to say that they have found a dog for me, I do not mind waiting but I cannot deny that I am really looking forward to the next stage of my training.

Eye Health Week

This is an extract from an email sent to me by Guide Dogs.

“Sight Matters Event - Sight Matters is an annual event held in various locations around Nottingham City Centre. The event, hosted by the Low Vision Services Committee (LVSC), aims to raise awareness of local and national services for visually impaired people and their families and friends, an exhibition of equipment and access technology and demonstrations from organisations such as Guide Dogs or sport and leisure groups.

The 2011 event will take place during Eye Health Week focusing on preventable eye conditions, looking after your sight and services to support you should you have difficulties with your vision. Activities taking place across Nottingham:

Wednesday, 15 June – between 10am and 3pm.  Awareness in the Old Market Square, Nottingham City Centre. Events by Guide Dogs and other organisations.  It would be nice if you could come and support us on the day.”

Along with my daughter, Sharon, we went to Nottingham for the day so as to give “Guide Dogs” some support. We travelled to Nottingham by train; the journey took about forty minutes. I have not travelled by train for many years and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and was pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was to get on the train but will admit that I was holding on to Sharon. We found some seats and were able to sit opposite to each other by the window………makes it easy for me to lipread and hear Sharon.

Eventually, we arrived in Nottingham, we knew that we had to follow the signs to “Trams” so I left that to Sharon as it would have taken me much longer to find the signs with my eye sight. After a few minutes we were on a tram travelling to the Old Market Square which only took a few minutes. The conductor was a very cheerful person and soon realised that we did not know Nottingham so probably after seeing my white stick, told us to make sure that when returning to the railway station, we queue on the other side of the tramway; I replied that I would do my best and we all laughed!

We saw the GuideDogs stall in the Market Square and went over to see what was happening. We had a go on the tombola and won some prizes and looked at what was for sale, following this we had a lovely chat with Steve and another gentleman who was helping him out on the stall; they both had guide dogs and were very friendly. Sharon and I had a look round and took some photographs then we went to watch the first of the demonstrations. I know that guide dogs are special and so are the people involved with the training but after the demonstrations, Sharon had to admit that she did not realised just how special they were; she loved watching the demonstrations.

Later, we went to the Pizza Hut but as we walked in I turned toward Sharon and told her that I could not see a thing as it was so dark inside but realised that she was talking to a lady who turned out to be the manageress. On noticing my white stick, she suggested that we went in to an area that was actually closed to the public and was at the front near the windows; it was so much better and there was a lot of light. We had a lovely meal and eventually Sharon fetched me some ice-cream which was covered with  chocolate sauce, smarties, chocolate raisons, teddies and others; it was delicious. The waitress was very friendly and we made her laugh especially when I told her that I did not think that I’d been in a Pizza Hut before. At the end of the meal, the waitress asked me if I would go to a Pizza Hut again and my reply was a positive yes as long as it was light enough for me to see what I was eating!

We went back to the square and had a walk round before returning to the railway station, calling in the café for a cuppa and then getting on the train to return home. We had a wonderful day and hope that it will not be long before they find me a suitable guide dog.

Guide dog

A Guide Dog Mobility Instructor visited me at home and we did a short handle walk, the handle being a shorter version of the handle used on a guide dog harness. I held one end while the instructor held the other, we started walking with the instructor walking slightly ahead of me winding from one side to the other until we reached the end of our road then we stopped at the kerb, this was followed by more tests. They needed to find out what sort of person I was and to obtain information that would help them to decide what sort of dog would be suitable for me. Eventually, I received a letter informing me that I had been put on the waiting list for a Guide Dog. The hunt was now on to find a dog with the appropriate physical and temperamental characteristics to match my special needs

About nine months later, I received a phone call from Guide Dogs informing me that they believe they have found a potential guide dog for me and arrangements were made for the Guide Dog Instructor to bring the dog to my home to see if we would be a successful match.  I will call him “K”, he was black, a cross Labrador and golden retriever and he was a lovely and a handsome dog. I liked him and knew that he was the one for me and now it was time for us all to go for a walk. This was the first time that I walked with a guide dog, I really could not concentrate as I was  so excited and thrilled to meet the chosen dog and there was so many things that I had to think about.  We took “K” home to meet my husband, Ronald. The Guide dog instructor told me that “K” would be anxious and possibly nervous because he did not really understand what was happening. She described to me how he may react and you know that is exactly what he did but after a few minutes he introduced himself to my husband who returned the favour and then” K” came and sat next to me. He was so lovely and I knew that he was the dog for me but it was not until the next day that I was told that he could be my guide dog.

The training was due to start on 18^th October 2010 but before then during a visit to the surgery my world collapsed because I was told that I needed to go into the hospital for an operation. I told the guide dog trainer and she explained that I would have to give up “K”, I knew this because I was told that it would be at least three months before I would be fit again; life can be so cruel.

An appointment was made for me to see a consultant on 28^th October and it was confirmed that I would need an operation which was arranged for 21^st December but luck was on my side because the following Monday, I was told that they had a cancellation and did I want it. I went to the hospital for an assessment on 3^rd November and had the operation on the 4^th of November, I was well looked after and the nursing staff and medical staff were made aware of my disabilities and I returned home the following Monday. To-day, 18th May 2011, I received a letter informingme that I was back on the waiting list.

Guide Dog

I decided to apply for some mobility help as I felt that there was a need for a change which was to gain some independent and dignity. I asked my husband Ronald and daughters what their thoughts were regarding the possibility of applying for a guide dog and they were delighted with the suggestion.  I got in touch with the "Guide dogs Association for the Blind" and after several meetings with their representatives, found that yes, a guide dog was an option. At first, it was suggested that I had some training with the long cane but I refused without any hesitation with that option, it really did not appeal to me but later I changed my mind and started my training about a month later. I knew that I should be more independent and less dependent on other people for help but to go out without having to wait for someone to come along when available was very nice.  I have been very lucky to have a friend who often went into town shopping with me.

About two months into my training, I fell down the stairs at our home and I certainly would not recommend that anyone should try it for I was in pain for months and lost a lot of missed mobility training. I really do not know why I fell, did I miss a step or did I misjudge the stairs, I really do not know. I asked my elder daughter to put a message on the private family website for me and this is what she put:

“Just wanted to let everyone know that, although she will be fine, we have just spent the day at A & E with Mum. This morning Mum decided to try for a career change as a stunt woman. She has fallen down the stairs at home - full length from top to bottom, doing a somersault on the way down. She knew she had hurt her back so stayed very still until the ambulance arrived to take her to hospital. She has been incredibly lucky and not broken anything, although she is incredibly sore and bruised. She was looked after very well and fitted with a neck brace, until she was x-rayed. Unfortunately she enjoyed it in A & E so much that when they discharged her and she was leaving she promptly fainted so had to be re-admitted for a couple of hours until she felt she was ready to go home. She is back at home this evening and Dad is looking after her. Joking apart, it could have been a lot worse if she had not acted on instinct during the fall and stayed still until the ambulance arrived - Mum asked me to let you all know. Get well soon Mum XX “

It was several months before I resumed my mobility training and was eager to get on with it. I started on my long cane training but first I did a refresher’s course which was to prove very useful and did help to improve my confidence, then it was the turn of the long cane. Will talk about this next week.