Nancy and I had flown back east to present the ICWIB program. It was a long and difficult trip since some individuals have presented their dogs to be service dogs and then the dog has exhibited behavior that isn’t present in real service dogs.
After we landed, we left the airport and headed to the hotel where we had a reservation. As we walked into the lobby the gentleman behind the desk immediately stated, “no dogs allowed.” in a loud and commanding voice. Nancy said, “my service dog has been trained to assist me with my disability.” “What is your disability?” he asked in a cold and dismissive voice. “How do I know you aren’t making it up? How do I know he is really a certified service or medical alert dog?”
Now you need to remember that Nancy has Addison’s which means her body does not make the hormone needed to counteract stress. This means she must administer the hormone manually. I was trained to let her know when her adrenals begin to fail because of the lack of this hormone.
Then the man behind the desk became more adamant and spoke louder in a cold and dismissive tone so everyone in the lobby could hear him. “I can’t give you a room because we don’t allow animals in our establishment.”
At this point I was getting concerned because I could smell the smell Nancy’s adrenals generated when they were beginning to fail. I pressed myself up against her leg to offer support though at that moment Nancy began to shake. In the beginning it was subtle but, at an unbelievable speed her whole body began to convulse uncontrollably. Her knees buckled and she slid to the floor.
At this point I began directing her to take more of the medication, but she was convulsing so hard my direction to take more medication didn’t register. Someone shouted call 911. I knew they would not be able to assist her, so I did everything I had been taught to divert or at least slow down the crashing.
A woman approached, squatted down and asked if she could help, Nancy was able to say, “medicine is in his jacket.” The woman reached into my vest and pulled out a small pill box, opened it, and dumped several pills into Nancy’s shaking hand. Nancy stuffed them into her mouth and started to chew them. Her eyes were still glassy and her breathing labored, but the convulsing had begun to slow down, and the smell began to dissipate. I leaned into Nancy more while focusing on keeping my breathing slow and steady. About five minutes later I felt Nancy’s hand touch my back and pull me closer. At that moment I knew we were out of the woods.
The man behind the counter had turned a shade of gray, and at this point was joined by his boss. As Nancy began to recover the second gentleman said, “I am sorry this situation has been handled so poorly, let me walk you to your room.” Nancy’s coordination hadn’t completely returned so we walked slowly. He said, “I have seen noted on your reservation that you would like a ground level room that is quiet and hopefully has some good light.” He stopped at the door, opened it, and allowed Nancy and me to walk in. Finally, he said, because of the misunderstanding and stress created by my staff, there is no charge. Nancy closed the door and slid onto the bed. I curled up next to her and we both drifted into some much-needed sleep.
I wish there wasn’t so much misinformation about service dogs, but there is. In response we can recoil, stick our heads in the sand, or reach out and help those who are vulnerable.
If you would like some help remembering how to connect more deeply with yourself so you can see and find a way to support those in need,
I suggest you explore the I Create What I Believe (ICWIB) program where my friend Luke will demonstrate the ICWIB activities and/or attend the FREE Drawing in the Now classes that are taught by Nancy Marie over Zoom the first and third Monday of the month from 4:30 pm-5:00 pm PST.
For more information about the FREE Drawing in the Now Classes
visit: https://icreatewhatibelieve.com/drawing-in-the-now/
For more information about the ICWIB Online Training Program
visit https://icreatewhatibelieve.com/online-training/
If you would like to leave a comment for Alex regarding his Insights,
please visit our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/
or you can email Alex at Alex@icreatewhatibelieve.com
In a recent interview Dr. Bruce Lipton said, “…Freedom is the ability to create without the limitation of generational programming. The I Create What I Believe! (ICWIB!) Program is a gateway and a pathway into a new and better future because it allows children and (adults) to fully express themselves and to not be limited by the beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation. This program also frees up children’s and (adults’) minds and allows their creative nature to create a better world for all of us, which is what we need right now!”
