Sit Means Sit: The Training Continues

The end of September and the first part of October was an exciting time for me. I was blessed to be part of the team that brought a group of Veterans and their spouses to New York for the Heroes Freedom Weekend. From there, my wife and I headed to Ireland for 8 days. I had additional travel obligations in October and found myself away from home more than I was at home.  Although this time away was amazing- there was one downfall. Luna is too young to travel with me which meant she had to stay with the kids and family while my wife and I were gone. Luna had progressed beautifully in her training before my traveling began and I was so proud of how far we had come.

As I write this blog, I am looking at the remnants of a pair of Oakley sun glasses that are sitting on top of a flyer for a dog training organization called Sit Means Sit. It is very ironic because I believe the only part of her training she remembers IS sit. Although we left her in our home with our children and my mother in law, she has been acting like a rebellious teenager. We had hoped that bringing someone in to stay with her and keep her environment the same would stop some of the regression that we knew was inevitable. The amount of regression we have experienced is much more than we ever could have anticipated and decided to get outside help.

Luna developed a UTI while we were traveling and we had difficulty getting her healthy again. When we were leaving on a second trip her UTI reemerged and she had to have a multitude of tests again including an ultrasound and bloodwork to see if her kidneys were involved. This sweet baby that had been potty-trained since we got her was now having difficulty controlling her bladder. Luna was even peeing in our bed in her sleep. This illness came at the same time as what we now think is separation anxiety.

Luna started freaking out when we would leave her at home. We have other dogs and prior to this she was ok to be home and not kenneled when we went to the gym or on a quick errand. Now, Luna is tearing up the house- eating sunglasses, boxes, toys, and peeing all over the house if she is left alone. Even if we leave her downstairs and we are upstairs. This led us to the decision to bring in a professional. Someone that can assess her behavior and make sure that we get it under control immediately. I often travel for work and we can not have her go through this type of regression every time I am gone. Eventually she will travel with me but not until she is fully trained as a service dog and passes the test. This could take many more months.

I know that both my wife and I will not be gone at the same time in the next few months so I am confident we can get this little girl back on track. I look forward to the meeting with the trainer who will hopefully be able to tell me how to fix these newfound fears and habits. One trait that she has not lost that I believe is important part of her training is her medical empathy. Last week my wife had to start some new medications while I was out of town and it has made her pretty sick. Luna did not leave her side- laying on top of her to keep her in bed, laying next to her when she was vomiting in the bathroom, and jumping up and pawing at her when she was getting very anxious dealing with our adopted son’s difficulties in school. These are not things we have taught her, these are things she does instinctively.

I know that Luna will regain the skills she has forgotten and we will move forward in her training over the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Juan Perez, Heroes Thanking Heroes Assistant Director

A Letter of Thanks

To the Coalition to Salute Americas Heroes and their Amazing staff,

  My Husband Curtis and I recently attended the Heroes Freedom Weekend in New York. The experience was absolutely amazing and is something we will both never forget. This was the first time to New York for the both of us. The Staff was so very friendly and extremely helpful and caring throughout the entire weekend.

It’s not often that we are able to get away from home and experience a weekend like we did. We are extremely thankful for this special opportunity.  A few of the many highlights of our weekend was definitely visiting the 9/11 Memorial and the 9/11 museum. It was emotional and a surreal moment for us both. A moment we will never forget. Visiting the firehouse across the street and hearing stories from the fire chief was also really awesome as well.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty was amazing. Curtis had always wanted to see the Statue of Liberty in Person and he had such a great day that day. Meeting and speaking with the other veteran couples was also so helpful and a feeling of not being in this journey alone. The Pairs therapy classes were also very beneficial for us. During one the evenings on our free time we were able to experience The Empire State Building and just be in awe of that beautiful view from the top.

Words cannot express how thankful we are for this opportunity and we also want to give a huge thanks to the Coalition, the staff, the therapy team, Our team lead Antoinette Batchelor, The NY firefighters and 9/11 hero Joe Torillo, and all the amazing couples we got to experience this Freedom Weekend trip with.

Sincerely,
Curtis & Dorothy Dimas

A 'Thank You' Message From the Johnson's

Heroes Freedom Weekend
I grew up in New York. I know people assume that means New York City. NYC is a world away from the town I grew up in. One quick blink and you could miss my small little hometown. Yet the city is my backyard. I love visiting the city and all its grandness. It is HUGE. I love the hustle and bustle, but it is not home. In my fourth-grade year, we had a chance to partake in a trip to NYC. Of course, the statue of liberty and many other things were on our agenda to visit. You always remember your first experience more vividly, at least this was my case. Culture shocked and AWW inspired, I was. I most looked forward to going to the World Trade Center. It was the tallest building. Riding an elevator up 108 stories seemed a bit scary, primarily since I was never fond of elevators. I remember the ride surprisingly not taking as long as anticipated and my stomach flopping with the fast movement. The teachers were right... people of NYC had their own pace: fast and faster. The shops, the stores, but what amazed me most was sitting in the bench seats trembling with fear of heights and looking down to a whole other world. Yellow cabs were the size of matchbox cars, the people were no larger than ants and being that high up left me feeling the sway of the building moving. How does steel flex that much? The whole time, I was just watching, lost in amazement. It was and still is the sight and place I remember most from our visit.

Fast forward to the year I was turning 23. I taught a preschool class for 3-4 year-olds.  The TV was on and my co-workers were staring at the screen. I watch in disbelief. This does not happen to America. I remember having at least 10 friends unaccounted for because they worked or lived close to ground zero. I also had 5 families throughout the morning come to me with similar statements such as this one,  "I am not sure how this day is going to end for us... If I can’t get back here, can you make sure they are ok?"

Yes, I will stay however long is needed. Waiting to hear if the kids you love like your own family are ok makes time stop. Keeping up with news and trying to keep them away from it all just became my most important job. By the end of the day and into the week, they all returned and as for my friends, they were located.

My safety changed that day. What always will stay with me is I know what it took for the people to jump from that height seeing with my own eyes how grand it was. They are always in my prayers. I have been to the 9/11 museum one other time. Going into the room where all the faces are, knowing the path of my life is always for a reason. My husband resigned because of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. He was a firefighter/paramedic. Pair that with being Army Infantry- It was not IF he would go to war. It was always a case of when. Going to these kinds of places that will affect you much more profound and different than some is so much more comfortable with a group of people. Everyone in our group knew this is the place where it started, and it would feel much like a band-aid being ripped off. It was important to go there and be a part of this whole retreat. NYC is not a place we can just visit anytime. It triggers every one of Nathan's components he deals with. But having the strength to do it with a new tribe to help us is key to keeping the momentum of being able to take another step forward. I read something this week that said Wellness without we is just illness. It stayed with me. Everyone from the trip will stay with me. Thank you for the adventures and even joy.

Nathan knew firefighters and 1st responders that were hurt and killed in the past. He personally knew someone from firehouse 10 whose brother lost both legs while saving lives that day. He has lots of layers, and most do not know that. Protecting life and taking is a double sword that stays with him. He knew this trip would not be easy. Even through all of that hesitation, Nathan still had the courage to sign up to attend. He was brave enough to show up and to do the hard work. He also found the courage to venture out alone with me to the one place he most wanted to go to. So that is what we did. Katz, here we come! We rode the subway, took detours because the F train is being worked on, had a long walk to Chinatown and we made it! Check one food place from his food show bucket list off. Finding Joy in the storm is just part of the journey. We are glad to have had this chance, thank you for making our lives a little kinder.

-Melissa Johnson; Heroes Thanking Heroes representative, veteran caregiver and attendee of the 2018 Heroes Freedom Weekend.

To learn how you can help support our mission in rebuilding the lives of severely wounded post 9/11 veterans, visit the Coalition's website at www.saluteheroes.org