Service Dog Training Day Ten: Graduation

Four months of fundraising, nine months of waiting and two weeks of training brings us to the day we have been waiting for: graduation with Nick's autism assistance service dog.

After the certification test at the mall, we, along with nine other families from across the country came back to 4 Paws for a graduation ceremony shared with the 4 Paws staff and foster families who had some of the dogs in their home for part of their training. It was a celebration for us all. Each family was brought on "stage" and presented with a certification certificate. There were rounds of applause for each service dog team. Smiles, laughter, congratulations and hugs were shared among families and staff. We shared final conversations over graduation cake and food, and said good-bye.

As we drove out of the 4 Paws parking lot for the last time, I couldn't help but feel a tug in my throat. I said to John, "We will never repeat experience exactly like this again." Even if we do service dog training again, it will not be the first for us, like this was. It will not be with the same experiences or group of people.

These two weeks of training, with both the ups and downs, are one of those moments in the life of disability that makes us thankful for Nick's autism. It is a moment of a rich observation of life that we would never know without special needs. We thank God for the blessing of those moments.

Now we pack and get ready to go home where yet another new chapter unfolds in this journey with our new family member. I think there will be more of those meaningful experiences to come. And a lot to learn as well.