UPDATE
How Our Lives Have Changed
When we began the journey of getting a service dog for Jonathan, our main goal was to keep Jonathan safe. Boo has certainly done that. For example, while getting in and out of the car, Boo keeps Jonathan close and prevents him from being able to run off.

What I did not expect from Boo, was the since of freedom she has not only given Jonathan, but the entire family. Jonathan is no longer confined to an adaptive stroller everywhere we go. He is now able to walk to the park and around the mall. We can finally go to friends' houses with all of our kids! We recently attended a birthday party and we didn't have to chase Jonathan up the stairs, out the door, or through the kitchen! Boo kept Jonathan in the area we were in, but allowed him room to play and enjoy all the treats.

I am amazed with how Boo has changed our lives in such a short time. I look forward to updating everyone on the life adventures of Jonathan and Boo!

Jonathan's Story

Jonathan wasn't even a year old when he first began to show signs of autism. He became very difficult to keep happy, as various noises would upset him. It began with vacuum cleaners or loud bangs, nothing that would necessarily alarm a parent. But then the list began to grow as he would become hysterical when he heard a baby or animal sounds on tv. Before long, Jonathan would be rushed to the opposite end of the house when someone across the street began to mow the lawn. Trips to loud public places such as the mall or even the grocery store were near impossible.

Jonathan's first birthday had come and gone and the sweet little jabbering had nearly disappeared. There were no signs of his first word coming anytime soon. He became socially withdrawn. He no longer showed interest in his enormous toy collection. He spent his time lining up his cars and lining up or looking at his books. Shopping for cute little outfits seemed a waste of time as sensory issues increased to the point he couldn't stand shirts and craved soft fabrics such as fleece.

At the age of only seventeen months, Jonathan was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). The words seemed to flow out of the doctor's mouth so easily, yet it didn't settle so well even though it was expected. That warm September day marked the beginning of a lifelong journey for Jonathan and his family. The medical appointments increased and early intervention began. For every gain Jonathan had, there was another loss.

Jonathan is now six years old. He not only has autism, which greatly impacts his language and social skills, but he also has neurological issues, a tendency to choke easily, and a feeding tube. He still lines up toys and random objects. Occasionally he can be found attempting to assemble his train tracks and put the miniature people inside the trains. His favorite pastime, though, is reading and writing. It is incredible to watch a young child who speaks so little write upside down and backwards so that the person across the table can read it easily.

Although the list of noises that disturbed Jonathan so greatly has dwindled, he still has at least one meltdown a day. He jumps at the opportunity to get in the car to go somewhere, but once he gets there he isn't so cooperative. He frequently uses an adaptive stroller when out in public because of his behavioral issues. Jonathan usually has his own ideas of where he's going to go once he gets out of the car. He will run off in front of cars or just lie down in the middle of the street. He even keeps his teachers in shape by repeatedly running out of classrooms.

Numerous doctors, teachers, and therapists are responsible for the incredible progress Jonathan has made, but he still struggles every day to figure out how to cope so that he can live in our world. Occasionally it seems he forgets about all the obstacles in front of him and takes a moment to enjoy playing in the park, riding a train, eating chocolate ice cream, or splashing in the rain. One day, Jonathan will learn how to not just cope in someone else's world, but to be a part of everyone's world.