Eddy's Story
| Providing the gift of independence & love… one dog at a time® |
Hi everyone at CST,
I’m writing you because of something that happened recently that took me by complete surprise.
Shortly after Graduation I caught a very bad cold. After 2 weeks I realized it had settled in my chest. For a quadriplegic that uses their
diaphragm to breathe that’s not a good sign. My Caregiver tried hard to get me to the Hospital. I am always slow about going to the
Hospital. I detest being an inpatient. I know your going to say. “Typical man”. After 6 days of sitting up all night trying to breathe my
kidneys decided to shut down. Still I balked but gave in when I was sure I had pneumonia.
I’m fine now so don’t worry. The reason I told you all this is because I never told anyone the real reason I didn’t go sooner was my
concern over Toffee. How was she going to be? Was she going to be walked, fed right, toileted etc.?
I remembered during training that Service Dogs have Separation Anxiety, and Toffee did. What wasn’t explained is the Separation
Anxiety the Handler has. I’m such a wuss. I fretted over Toffee the whole stay in the V.A., teared up when my caregiver brought her to
see me almost daily. Especially when Toffee would snuggle her nose under my chin and whimper lick me happily, then roll on her
back so I could rub her tummy.
This bond is like cement. I don’t know where I stop and Toffee starts anymore. Were a symbiotic organism now I guess.
GOD Bless you CST
Ed&Toffee
Update:
Its Already Been A Year!
I was sitting at my computer. Playing a game when my Service Dog nudged me to let me know it was time to eat.
After putting down her food I started to think back to last spring when I went to CST for Team Training.
Where I was lucky enough to be teamed up with my beautiful Black Lab Toffee.
That's when it hit me. Its been a year! I was amazed it seemed so short a time, but at the same
time I couldn’t remember when Toffee wasn’t with me.
Now see what CST went and did? Gave an old disabled vet a loving gentle partner.
Made my lonely life better, fuller, and productive. Lets just say when thinking this my glasses somehow
became moist. Must be the humidity! Nothing makes a Special Forces Paramedic get misty.
Nothing.....Well Toffee might.
The fact is I barely made Team Training. I had missed the previous year due to being ill.
Was in fact in bed almost 2 years. I started to get a little better and was up in my chair a lot more when
my friend asked if the service dog I had told him about was still available for me. Upon calling
CST I was informed I was still on the list and could I make it in May 2004. It was March 1st. I
said “sure”, not knowing if I would be up to 2 weeks of long days in training.
I went to the V.A. ordered a new power wheelchair. Setup my attendant and a backup
(Glad I did this). Setup a Vet and Groomer. Made reservations and hoped.
First my wheelchair took till late April to get assembled. Three days before I had to leave. No
time for break-in or fine tune adjustments. Two days before I had to go my Aunt who was like my
Mother died. I was told by family to go to Temecula. That she would understand.
The day to go! It was 106 degrees and my air was broken in my van. Somehow I made the 85 mile drive.
The first day of training!! We awoke late and I was ill. I got up bit the bullet, but still arrived late
at class. (I hate being late) and the class all looked at me with that “You blew it” look. I backed
my new chair into the file cabinet. Carol waited patiently, then informed me quite bluntly that “I could catch up later”.
So much for first impressions.
That night my attendant left and I had to call my backup. He arrived at 4:30 AM but we made our
8am class. I was still ill, but it seemed to abate during the day. Somehow we got through training.
Let me wind this up. The two weeks flew by. I look back on it fondly. It seems Toffee and I were
meant for each other.
Today I am stronger healthier, and lots happier.
Toffee is hardly ever away from my side. Sick days are fewer, Good days numerous.
CST, and by that I mean the Breeders, Raisers, Trainers, Change A Life Foundation ( My grant people)
and all the fine people that donate time and money to this fine Organization.
To Carol Roquemore. I love you! Thanks to all who helped me obtain my best friend
Oh! Toffee says Hi :)
“Smilin”
Eddy Chastain
I’m writing you because of something that happened recently that took me by complete surprise.
Shortly after Graduation I caught a very bad cold. After 2 weeks I realized it had settled in my chest. For a quadriplegic that uses their
diaphragm to breathe that’s not a good sign. My Caregiver tried hard to get me to the Hospital. I am always slow about going to the
Hospital. I detest being an inpatient. I know your going to say. “Typical man”. After 6 days of sitting up all night trying to breathe my
kidneys decided to shut down. Still I balked but gave in when I was sure I had pneumonia.
I’m fine now so don’t worry. The reason I told you all this is because I never told anyone the real reason I didn’t go sooner was my
concern over Toffee. How was she going to be? Was she going to be walked, fed right, toileted etc.?
I remembered during training that Service Dogs have Separation Anxiety, and Toffee did. What wasn’t explained is the Separation
Anxiety the Handler has. I’m such a wuss. I fretted over Toffee the whole stay in the V.A., teared up when my caregiver brought her to
see me almost daily. Especially when Toffee would snuggle her nose under my chin and whimper lick me happily, then roll on her
back so I could rub her tummy.
This bond is like cement. I don’t know where I stop and Toffee starts anymore. Were a symbiotic organism now I guess.
GOD Bless you CST
Ed&Toffee
Update:
Its Already Been A Year!
I was sitting at my computer. Playing a game when my Service Dog nudged me to let me know it was time to eat.
After putting down her food I started to think back to last spring when I went to CST for Team Training.
Where I was lucky enough to be teamed up with my beautiful Black Lab Toffee.
That's when it hit me. Its been a year! I was amazed it seemed so short a time, but at the same
time I couldn’t remember when Toffee wasn’t with me.
Now see what CST went and did? Gave an old disabled vet a loving gentle partner.
Made my lonely life better, fuller, and productive. Lets just say when thinking this my glasses somehow
became moist. Must be the humidity! Nothing makes a Special Forces Paramedic get misty.
Nothing.....Well Toffee might.
The fact is I barely made Team Training. I had missed the previous year due to being ill.
Was in fact in bed almost 2 years. I started to get a little better and was up in my chair a lot more when
my friend asked if the service dog I had told him about was still available for me. Upon calling
CST I was informed I was still on the list and could I make it in May 2004. It was March 1st. I
said “sure”, not knowing if I would be up to 2 weeks of long days in training.
I went to the V.A. ordered a new power wheelchair. Setup my attendant and a backup
(Glad I did this). Setup a Vet and Groomer. Made reservations and hoped.
First my wheelchair took till late April to get assembled. Three days before I had to leave. No
time for break-in or fine tune adjustments. Two days before I had to go my Aunt who was like my
Mother died. I was told by family to go to Temecula. That she would understand.
The day to go! It was 106 degrees and my air was broken in my van. Somehow I made the 85 mile drive.
The first day of training!! We awoke late and I was ill. I got up bit the bullet, but still arrived late
at class. (I hate being late) and the class all looked at me with that “You blew it” look. I backed
my new chair into the file cabinet. Carol waited patiently, then informed me quite bluntly that “I could catch up later”.
So much for first impressions.
That night my attendant left and I had to call my backup. He arrived at 4:30 AM but we made our
8am class. I was still ill, but it seemed to abate during the day. Somehow we got through training.
Let me wind this up. The two weeks flew by. I look back on it fondly. It seems Toffee and I were
meant for each other.
Today I am stronger healthier, and lots happier.
Toffee is hardly ever away from my side. Sick days are fewer, Good days numerous.
CST, and by that I mean the Breeders, Raisers, Trainers, Change A Life Foundation ( My grant people)
and all the fine people that donate time and money to this fine Organization.
To Carol Roquemore. I love you! Thanks to all who helped me obtain my best friend
Oh! Toffee says Hi :)
“Smilin”
Eddy Chastain
| Canine Support Teams, Inc. |
| "Changing the way the world thinks about disabilities, one dog at a time" ® |
| 951-301-3625 cstmain@caninesupportteams.org |
