Pushing Jared down the street created a parting of human seas. The wheelchair was so intimidating, many circled as far around it as possible. Children Jared’s age had little patience with a boy who physically couldn’t keep up with them. Then there was the matter of language. Because of cerebral palsy’s effect on his throat, chest, and vocal chords, learning to understand Jared required time. Few were patient enough to give the boy a chance to share his thoughts and ideas. And because he didn’t have the chance to finish his thoughts, most didn’t realize how bright he was.
Jared moved through elementary school effortlessly, learning everything he was given. Though his teachers had to adapt to meet his special needs, he mastered his course work with ease. Yet making close friends was far more difficult. He was perceived as the kid with a disability before he was thought of as Jared. Sadly, there seemed no way to open up minds and get his peers to see past the dramatic effects that cerebral palsy had inflicted on his body.
At home it was easier. To his family, his wit, charm, and intelligence were recognized, and he was easily understood. Though it surprised many visitors, Jared loved the things every other middle school kid enjoyed. Even with limited movement and dexterity, he was a whiz at video games. His sharp mind gave him an edge in anticipating what reaction would be needed next, and that meant he was usually one step ahead of the game. Yet when he dropped a controller, he had no way of retrieving it. Thus, it fell upon those around him to do that simple task. Jared also couldn’t take off his own socks or pick up the television remote, and he needed help opening doors. Yet what he required more than any of those things was to be appreciated and accepted rather than pitied and shunned.
Good parents never give up on their children. No matter how high the hurdle, they search for ways to climb over it. The Stevenses were not going to allow their son to be homebound. His mind was good, he had a great personality and sharp wit, and they were going to find a method to expose all that was special in Jared to the world.
Phil happened upon a story about a service dog that enabled a paralyzed person to accomplish the basic tasks of his life. The dog opened the man’s doors, picked up clothing, handed him the mail, and even pulled his wheelchair. As he considered his son’s daily needs, Phil sensed a dog might be a way for Jared to gain a bit of independence and freedom. A call to Canine Companions for Independence opened a new door for this boy who used a wheelchair.
The organization studied the Stevenses’ Nashville, Tennessee, home and got to know Jared as a person. Representatives from Canine Companions looked into the boy’s limitations while also studying his strengths. They determined Jared was a very good candidate for a service dog. The question was now in the family’s court: would they be willing to go to the organization’s Southeast Region Training Center in Orlando and spend a few weeks learning how to properly use and take care of a dog? Without hesitation they answered in the affirmative, all the while praying that 2012 would be the year that Jared’s life would dramatically change.
It takes more than two years of training to get an assistance dog ready to serve a person with a disability. During this time, the dog is taught scores of commands that require prompt actions. It is relatively easy to get a dog to perform those learned skills in a controlled environment, but a great deal of an assistance dog’s work comes in a world filled with noise and distractions. Only by continuing to correctly perform their duties in ballparks, malls, schools, and on busy streets does the dog earn the chance to serve.
Just like that of any junior-high-aged boy, Jared’s life was in constant change. Because of his parents’ push to keep him active in the world, he was involved in everything from church to Boy Scouts. Therefore, his assistance dog would be out in the public a great deal. There would also be the noise of TV, video games, and music that go along with a child in the information age. On top of that, cerebral palsy had affected Jared’s voice and speech patterns, so when he asked for something, the dog was going to have to learn to recognize the commands. This would require a very special animal with an adaptive skill set.
During training the Stevenses met a cream-colored Labrador/golden retriever cross named John III. The twinkle in Jared’s eyes and the dog’s vigorously wagging tail told the Stevenses there was hope. Yet it would be several months before they realized this was more than just an immediate bond between a boy and a dog. This was the forming of a team that would soon unlock a very stubborn door.
John III learned and adapted quickly to Jared’s voice, but even more remarkably, he just as rapidly seemed to be able to read Jared’s body language. Even before they graduated from training, the dog was studying the boy’s facial expressions as a way of gauging if he was setting something to the side or if he had dropped it and needed John III to pick it up and give it back to him. But the real benefit of what John III was bringing to the table would only be fully realized when the pair came home.
Back in Tennessee, John III quickly got to know his new home, including Jared’s siblings, and figured out his place in this new world. On command, John III could do the chores that Jared would otherwise need help from his family members to accomplish. John retrieved clothing, pencils, and toys and delivered them to Jared. Yet what was most remarkable was the way the dog looked at the boy. There was love and acceptance in that gaze, and Jared picked up on it. Jared knew that John III did not see his disability. So while John III was there to deal with Jared’s practical needs, within days he had begun to benefit him emotionally as well. Even in those first weeks, the boy began to refer to the dog as “my best buddy.”
A friend sees your strengths and accepts you in spite of your restrictions. Even for those with no physical limitations, friends are not easy to find. But if you struggle with speech and motor skills, it can be difficult to find anyone outside of your family who will open their hearts and arms and surround you with love. John III’s tender gift of friendship was the greatest gift the child had ever known.
At home the two “friends” were inseparable. When Jared played video games, John III watched every move, mirroring the boy’s frustration when he lost and joy when he won. When the boy read, the dog listened, hanging on every word as if it was a code to unlocking the key to the universe. It is little wonder as the weeks moved forward that the dog’s devotion to Jared enhanced the boy’s appreciation for himself. It was as if the animal’s unconditional love was the formula for transforming the child’s sense of value.
No doubt one of the keys to this new point of view was Jared no longer being as dependent upon his parents. John III now did the little things that they used to do for him—from turning on a light or a game console to picking up a book. Thus Jared was gaining a real sense of independence. Making strides toward being a self-reliant person was a huge step in matu-rity. Without the dog, it was a step that simply couldn’t have been taken.
As the boy and dog ventured out into the world, another dramatic transformation occurred. The sea of humanity that had once spread out before and away from Jared and his wheelchair was now coming forward to greet him. People wanted to meet John III. They wanted to pet the dog and find out what he did for the boy. Better yet, people no longer talked “around” Jared; they talked to him. They asked him questions about John III and were so curious they patiently waited for the answers. Although Jared looked different, thanks to John III, people found that the creative Jared had a great deal to share with them. As the boy explained the dog’s role, people also began to see the boy’s intelligence and insight. These questions led to relationships based not on pity but on commonality. It seemed as if it took a dog for the world to view Jared as a real person.
Jared loved to watch sports on TV but was really drawn to wrestling. When a match was being shown, his eyes were glued to the screen. He rooted for his heroes, and his facial expression fully revealed how they were doing. It didn’t take long for John III to get into the matches as well, watching with excitement as he studied the boy’s actions and reactions.
> When he observed his son watching the sport, Phil sensed another avenue that had the promise of leading the way for his son to interact with kids his own age. He called the coach at Jared’s school and asked if the boy could become a part of the wrestling team. He further explained that although cerebral palsy had robbed Jared of his motor skills, he still loved the sport. Even though the experience of actually wrestling was out of the question, if he could just wear a uniform, attend practice, and be a part of the team, it would mean so much to the boy. The coach agreed, and Jared was given the chance to watch practices, listen to instruction, and learn even more about the sport he so loved. He was also placed in the team picture and was able to cheer for his team members when they hit the mat. And at night, as John III lay down by the boy’s bed, Jared shared his experiences with the dog as well as his dreams of someday being able to make it out on the mat for a match of his own.
Perhaps it was because the dog attended the meets and watched from the stands as well as the devotion and love of Jared’s family, but the coach began seeking a way to make the boy’s dream come true. To the shock of every person in the stands, at a home match, the coach picked up Jared from his wheelchair and laid the boy on the mat to represent his school. It was just supposed to be a symbolic act to reward loyalty and show the team’s acceptance. But thanks to another young man, it quickly became something much more. The junior high student he was matched against knew that an easy victory was assured. Yet when the referee signaled for the match to begin, this student fell to the ground, grabbed Jared’s arm, and pulled the boy over on top of him, setting himself up for the pin. In a matter of just a few seconds, Jared won the match.
People in the stands were both crying and cheering. The celebration continued for several minutes. As Jared’s teammates helped him back into his wheelchair, the boy’s grin spelled out what had just happened. A video that captured that match was posted on YouTube and went viral. Within weeks it had been shared and viewed by millions. Good Morning America even invited Jared to New York to be a guest on the ABC morning show. The boy’s answer was a qualified yes. He would be happy to attend if John III accompanied him.
Jared’s response fully showed that the boy understood what his dog had brought to his life. John III’s view of Jared as a vital, valuable person was the first step in others outside his family understanding his potential, too. The dog had brought people into his life and allowed him to make friends. John III had given him confidence and fueled dreams, one of which had now come true. So as the boy and dog were a team, in Jared’s mind, they had to make that trip together to show millions the miracle that had happened thanks to John III.
On Good Morning America, the video was shown again. As they introduced Jared and John III, the veteran TV hosts were crying. They told the audience that this was a rare moment when the best of human nature was on display and the potential of the human heart was being honored. During the interview, Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner—who was perhaps the greatest underdog ever to win a gold medal—marched out onto the set and placed a gold medal around Jared’s neck. The American athletic legend then declared that the boy was, in fact, his hero.
Jared’s brush with fame did not end with that appearance on network TV. He and John III marched in the 2012 inaugural parade in Washington D.C. and were made a part of the Tennessee Titans football team. On top of that, news outlets all over the world have told about the amazing transformation created in a boy by his service dog. That has led to other people with disabilities obtaining service dogs to enrich their lives.
When a father set in motion getting a dog to help his son with simple tasks around the house, he had no idea he would be unlocking the potential that Jared could offer the world. Jared, now a high school student, is planning on going to college. And thanks to a dog that is able to sense needs and constantly adapt in meeting those needs, the limitations created by Jared’s disability are now exceeded by the potential of a mind that has been fully unleashed.
No matter age, race, or position, everyone dreams of being a winner. Winning validates our existence and helps us realize goals. It also brings a sense of acceptance and self-esteem. It was John III that put Jared into a position to be accepted, appreciated, and given a chance to become a winner. It was John III that did the impossible, putting a disorder in its place, as he led a boy into a real world where dreams can and do come true.
Service Forgotten
The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten.
Calvin Coolidge
Our heroes should not be dismissed or forgotten. They should never be neglected or mistreated. They must be recognized. They need to be honored with thankfulness and respect for their sacrifice. Only by recognizing what they have done for us are we worthy of receiving the gifts they have given through their selfless service.
The smooth-coated collie had been bred and raised in the hopes that he would become a guide dog. Even as a pup he seemed mature beyond his years. While others in his litter were playing, he was standing back and studying the scene. His mind seemed to naturally calculate every move and be aware of everything going on around him. Thus, the calm, focused dog reminded his trainer of an old seaman, one who had spent years facing every challenge and in that time had gained great insight and wisdom. As the veterans of sailing were called “Old Salts,” the collie was christened Salty.*
With his alert gaze and his muscular body, as he grew, Salty stood out from the other dogs around him. He thrived on his trainer’s encouragement and was motivated by attention. Even casual observers picked him out as confident, determined, and intelligent. He was also intuitive. He sensed obstacles and problems before they happened. He was therefore a dog that was rarely surprised. When he reached two, Salty was put through a year of intense training. During that time he was pushed through every possible test a guide dog would experience during his lifetime of service. He learned to negotiate busy sidewalks, rural roads, ramps, elevators, large buildings, and metal steps. He was also educated in how to behave while on public transportation and in stores, schools, and restaurants. He was put into situations where there were distractions and temptations. His patience was measured, as was his ability to sense danger and ignore a command in order to keep his handler safe. Day by day tasks were repeated, varied, and adapted. As he met these new challenges, his skill set grew and so did his vocabulary. Salty soon recognized and responded to more than fifty commands and was able to sense a dozen more cues delivered by feel through his harness.
The collie had another trait that endeared him to those at the school. He was both loving and loyal. He bonded quickly with those who trained him and always seemed motivated to lay down his life for them. He displayed the courage and convictions of dogs about which stories were written. He was a rare dog that seemed more than ready to embrace the most daunting of tasks.
The US Marines have a slogan: “The few. The proud. The Marines.” Those words indicate that, to wear the uniform, a man or woman must be a rare and dedicated individual. Salty carried those same traits. So while others in his class flunked out of guide-dog training, he kept moving forward. If there had been such a ranking in the school, his grades would have made him officer material. In fact, Salty was such a model student that his trainers deemed he was ready to work with any age and in any environment.
Once dogs were certified, the school began to match human prospects with the newly trained dogs. Just as each canine had a unique aptitude and personality, each one of the men and women who applied had special needs, weaknesses, and strengths. One candidate was an elderly woman from Florida who needed a dog that could recognize and adjust to the physical limitations brought on by her age. Thus, the dog assigned to Emma was going to have to be patient, methodical, and laid back. Much more than any other dog in his class, Salty matched the woman’s very specific and unusual needs.
During their weeks of training at the school, Salty quickly adjusted to Emma. Though she often messed up commands, he
learned to understand what she wanted and responded appropriately. He also never hurried, allowing the woman’s slow pace to become his own. As the trainers taught Emma how to work the harness, Salty studied her as if memorizing her reactions. He quickly grew to understand her limitations and used his strength to compensate for them. As she patted his head, his eyes sparkled, and it seemed his mouth formed a grin. It was like he knew that Emma was his and he relished the responsibility of meeting her needs. Though it took the woman a while to grasp all the nuances of working in tandem with a dog, with the collie’s help, she grew more comfortable with allowing him to do his job. By graduation, she confidently marched across the stage, assured that Salty’s eyes were mapping her every step.
The first few days that a blind person and her new guide are at home are often difficult periods of adjustment. The human is not used to having to take care of a dog, and the canine is living in a completely different environment. Yet Salty easily made the adjustment. He learned the features in his new home, found his place in it, and stayed close to Emma as she adapted to meet his needs.
His eyes allowed her to move with so much more ease than she had with her cane. Yet it would be outside the home where he would really transform her life.
For the first time in years, Emma could go out in public without the help of a friend. With the dog leading the way, she now had the opportunity to shop independently, attend church, and ride public transportation. For the first time in years, with Salty leading the way, it felt as though she had no limits or fears.
In a matter of weeks, the canine/human team became a well-known sight around the neighborhood. As people watched the collie lovingly guide the woman, they rushed up to ask questions about how he knew to stop at this point or to warn her about a coming curb or fence. Those who approached Emma always wanted to pet Salty and make him their best friend, too. Though he treated each guest with patience and respect, the dog was far too focused on his mistress and her needs to get very close to anyone but her. Hence, he became the woman’s shadow. Even when he was off harness, he followed her everywhere she went. He was by her side when she listened to the radio, talked on the phone, or chatted with friends from her porch. Salty was also beside her bed at night, never completely relaxing until he sensed she was asleep. And when she woke up, he bounced forward, ready to again serve her needs.
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