While carrying heavy abseiling ropes as a part of her job as an outdoor instructor, Sarah-Jane – who goes by SJ – suffered a herniated disc. SJ had always dedicated her life to the great outdoors, but the injury meant she had to be taken to hospital for a low-risk surgery.
After waking up from the operation, a nurse asked SJ to wiggle her toes. When she couldn’t, she immediately knew something wasn’t right. As realisation and sheer terror gripped her, SJ panicked so much she had to be sedated.
“It was a slip of a hand during the surgery. Within a second I had quadriplegia,” SJ explains. “I woke up from the anaesthetic and I was paralysed.”
After months of excruciating rehabilitation, SJ regained a small amount of movement in her legs and arms but was left with next to no hand function.
“On a personal level, a relationship of 20 years had just finished a week before my surgery. And then I was coming through a period of crisis in my journey of emotional recovery from my spinal cord injury. I really didn’t want to live like that anymore…”
SJ had previously loved to ski and explore the world. She grieved for the life she used to have, and for the life she wanted to give her son Hamish, who was only four at the time. Adjusting to and accepting her new life was heartbreaking. Simple, everyday tasks became impossible to do on her own.
“I would wake up, hating every morning,” SJ recalls. “My morning routine with a carer would take at least two hours, sometimes three hours to get me up out of bed, showered, and toileted. My life was dark and I didn’t want to live.”
What kept SJ alive was her grit, determination, and her love for her son Hamish; her fighting spirit got her through one day at a time. But realising that she couldn’t do it all on her own for much longer, SJ thought that maybe a smart, loving, highly-trained assistance dog could help her.
SJ applied for an assistance dog and spent well over a year on the waitlist, but after an agonising wait, but she finally received the phone call she had been waiting for. The perfect dog for her personality and lifestyle was ready to start working.
Immediately, the connection and utter devotion between SJ and Cozie the black labrador was clear as day. Cozie hardly leaves SJ’s side, and in return, SJ can’t stop smiling every time she talks about her amazing helper. She says that her quality of life has improved significantly. “The turning point was two years ago, which correlates to the time that I received my assistance dog.”
On any given day, Cozie will perform a variety of tasks like collecting laundry from the washing machine, taking SJ’s jacket off, closing drawers, and even greeting people at the door when they visit, opening the front door to let them in.
Cozie is also trained to assist in picking up dropped items. These items are usually fragile or fiddly things like SJ’s mobile phone, glasses, and credit card. Cozie’s ability to retrieve items has helped SJ cope with the chance of being stranded—whether bed-bound for hours overnight or alone in the great outdoors.
“One time I was out in the bush by myself here in the Blue Mountains and I dropped my phone, which is my lifeline. Cozie was there to pick it up for me instead of me having to wait potentially hours for a passer-by to help.”
With Cozie as her eager 24/7 helper, SJ started feeling safe and confident enough to leave the house, a huge accomplishment for someone who had lost the will to return to the outside world. SJ also regained her sense of self and slowly returned to the cafes, national parks and ski slopes she loved in her previous life. With the help of Cozie, she even began volunteering with an Indigenous choir and at Hamish’s school, giving back to the community that she is a beloved part of.
Despite losing her mobility and way of life, SJ was able to rebuild her life and confidence, ultimately living with her head held high thanks to Cozie.
Assistance Dogs Australia’s assistance dogs are given to people with a physical disability, autism, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). With an assistance dog by their side, our clients can live with enhanced inclusion and independence. An assistance dog can boost self-esteem, health, and can also lead to increased participation in social and community life. All of our services are provided free of charge.
Join the Pack – ADA invites passionate individuals in NSW, QLD, and VIC to volunteer and join the team of Puppy Educators to support the mission of ADA. For anyone interested in joining the pack that cannot take on a puppy, you can follow ADA’s social media, spread awareness about ADA, advocate for Assistance Dog clients and or donate. Visit https://www.assistancedogs.org.au/support-us/puppy-volunteering/ to learn about volunteer opportunities and sign up to join the pack.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
