Zoe
I started to become unwell in 2007, having returned from a 3 month volunteer programme, working at a Wildlife rehabilitation centre in South Africa. After several months of extreme fatigue and spells of being bedridden I was diagnosed with ME and Hashimotos Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition, which now means I needs to take lifelong thyroid medication for an underactive thyroid. I continued to have health problems with the ME severely impacting my everyday life.
Although I had always had joint problems I began to suffer an increasing number of injuries including finger and hip dislocations, ankle sprains and jaw problems. After a long period of time seeing different specialist I was eventually diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Joint Hypermobility Syndrome. The tiredness and fatigue continued to be a problem for me and I had to reduce my work to part time hours and finally, after a relapse I was signed off work and then made redundant. I became very isolated during my relapses and spend a lot of time indoors, unable to face going out.
Episodes of dizziness
I began having episodes of dizziness, blacking out and some severe faints where I was taken to hospital. These episodes often resulted in injuries which meant I became afraid to go out alone and relied on parents or a close friend to accompany me going out.
Eventually at the beginning of 2016 I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), the complex condition that is not understood by many health professionals.
I had heard of Medical Detection Dogs and the more I read and spoke to people I began to think that an assistance dog may be a help to me and a way of gaining my lost independence and confidence in going out and about.
When Stowe, a happy smiling Black Labrador came bounding into my life, life was transformed for the better. There was an instant connection between the two of us and things were looking up. I then had hope of what the future could be like.
Stowe has alerted me to all of my episodes from day one, Stowe has now become my shadow and is always by my side. Since Stowe has been on the scene I have had no injuries or ambulance call outs. Stowe is able to detect, in advance, an episode before it has started so that I can find somewhere safe to sit or lay down. Having Stowe by my side has given me my life back as I know, that with Stowe by my side, I am safe.
Episodes are less severe
Because of the warning Stowe can give me, it now means my episodes are less severe and I can take measures that have stopped the injuries and visits to hospital. Stowe has been so tuned in to me that he hasn’t missed an alert since day one of placement. Even when I had only had Stowe a short time I felt more confident to take action in public without fear and embarrassment. I no longer feel self conscious about lying down on a train or in a shop if that is what I need to do.
Before Stowe arrived I may go days or even weeks without leaving the house but now I will go out on walks each day to make sure Stowe has time to run around and play. I can now go out feeling safe. I know Stowe will look after me and be there for me and he has become my soul mate.
Stowe takes everything in his stride and will happily accompany me to London for hospital appointments. When I am having a really bad day he is always there to make me smile and keep me company. Stowe loves being useful and loves fetching my medical kit, bottle of water or mobile phone if I am unable to get to them.
I will never be able to thank Medical Detection Dogs and all their volunteers enough for the hard work that was involved in training Stowe. If anyone wants to read more about the valuable work Medical Detection Dogs do, here is a link to their website: https://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/