Caramor Newfoundland Dogs

December 2011

Val contacted me in an email to share her story of her Newfoundland dog, Bubbles.  I thought it was worth sharing and asked her permission to post it on this website:

Please do share Bubbles' amazing story. She now has a widely-respected role to play, and is just so pleased and proud to finally be healthy enough to be able to perform it.

With each outing we make, we are met by so many people who are amazed by her beauty, her devotion to duty, and her gentle demeanor in its overall performance.

We take the time to explain the breed to those who are not familiar with it, and in conversing with so many others, we come home enriched with having learned so much about others, their stories and their issues.

Thanks so much for reading our story and please feel free to share it with everyone so that they will get to know a breed of dog that is not only huge in its physical stature, but also in its gigantic heart-of-hearts for its devotion, protection, intellect and grace."

This is Val & Bubbles' inspirational story:

"Dear Linda,

I just came across the article on the whereabouts of the Dickin Medal awarded to Sergeant Gander, the famous Newfoundland Dog Canadian War Hero.  While out with my service dog, Bubbles, just the other day, the subject of Gander's medal came up, and the location of exactly where it was on display seemed to be a mystery to the gentleman that I spoke with, so at least now I am aware of the precise location inside the Canadian War Museum. Bubbles and I must make a visit to that Museum and get a closer look at everything one day.

Bubbles is a rescue dog, turned multi-service dog, purely based on her incredible instincts and undying devotion to me.

 I suffer from a number of ailments, namely, Chronic Migraine Disease (CMD), Degenerative Disc Disease (lumbar spine and hips), and Macular Degeneration in both eyes.

After taking about a year and a half to get Bubbles back to health from two owners who cared nothing at all for her at the age of only one, and thereafter feeding her garbage, and not loving her, causing her entire system to break down and thereby not mature properly, my vet was able to give her a clear 100% bill of health on October 5th, 2010.

However, previously, in January of 2010, I experienced a severely long episode of vertigo which triggered me to automatically lean on Bubbles' hips and shoulders to balance myself.

 She stood there solidly in place - feeling my stress through my hands - when immediately after that attack, I went into an ocular migraine stroke attack which not only causes excruciating pain around the eyes, but is consequently followed by a total visual field blackout!

I was scared as it was around 6 in the morning, no cars around (that I could hear) and we were in the middle of a shopping mall parking lot with icy patches all around here and there. Not being able to see anything, I slowly "felt" my way up the leash to Bubbles' collar, gripped the collar, and said two words (while praying to God to help us): "Bubbles- Home!" (in a command voice). And she got me right to the door without hesitation!  I knew at that moment that I had the best dog in the world.

As Bubbles improved, I worsened. Unbeknownst to me until around January 2011, I had Macular Degeneration in both eyes and Degenerative Disc Disease in the lumbar spine and both hips. The pain is daily and constant, either sharp or dull.

Part of CMD, (which I have had since the age of 12 - over 49 years) is the OMS vision loss (which Bubbles senses ahead of the attack and gets me to safety or to sit down by leaning on my legs heavily), disorientation (which Bubbles senses and corrects by diverting me to the proper direction), vertigo (which Bubbles balances me), and since May 10th, 2011 - TIA's (temporal ischemic attacks - little strokes)- which she senses and again gets me to either sit down or takes me to safety.

She is my multi-purpose Service Dog, and my best friend ever.  In the past two years, it has been really rough, with my job loss, personal bankruptcy, health worsening, and fighting for disability for the Chronic Migraine Disease which does not show up on MRI's, X-rays, Cat-scans, or Ultrasounds or even technical/medical reports.  But I kept at it, as it is not only permanent, but it is also fatal in that the main cause of death of a person suffering from CMD is Migraine Stroke.

With Bubbles by my side, I have succeeded this far, and so has she, and together we go out each day to meet and greet folks, and in the process, we not only teach but we also learn, both about medical issues that others face, about their dogs, about assistance dogs, service dogs, the Newfoundland breed, and it manages to divert my focus from what I go through each day.

Bubbles is from Beardog Newfoundlands in Trenton, Ontario - Pat and Marc LeClair - she is the daughter of Cabot and Star), both Canadian Champion Newfoundlands. But to me, Bubbles will always be my BEST IN SHOW each and every single day that we are together.

 Thanks for the article on Gander's medal. I just thought that by recounting my story about my magnificent Newfoundland Bubbles, you'd realize the "connection" to the "thank you"; for the article on Gander and his Dickin Medal Award. 

All the very best to you and your family and your Newfoundlands.  It's the smartest, most devoted, and noblest breed of them all.  (I also had a 230-pound female Landseer about 15 years ago - who stared at me 20 seconds prior to an asthma attack. She too was a marvel.)

In my books, no breed even holds a candle to the Newfoundland - the true Canadian Icon.

Respectfully,

Val Frost and BUBBLES, my Newfoundland Service Dog"

I contacted Val and asked if she would like me to include her email address on my website.  This is what she has said:

"I honestly believe that in sharing our blessings with others as we go
through our daily routine, perhaps it will brighten their day and
bring a glow of warmth to their hearts, just as it does to Bubbles and
I with each waking day.

So many are suffering quietly with ailments that are both painful and
invisible, unaware of the "constant companionship" that such a devoted
animal could possibly bring to their lives. Such a source of
unconditional love becomes your mentor, your teacher, your guardian,
your nurse, your very best friend, and most of all - your kindred
spirit. You are never alone with your pain, and through their comical
antics from time to time, the laughter that emanates from such playful
activity just raises you out of any possible depression.

My own story brought me to tears, yet again, Linda, as every time I
think of just how much Bubbles and I have succeeded in caring for each
other and in growing together, it appears to be nothing short of a
miracle. God works in mysterious ways, and as Bubbles improved and her
exploits in dealing with both her own issues as well as mine, together
with harmonizing with the public in general were made known to Pat
LeClair, her only response was: "It is a marriage made in Heaven.".

There are no words with which to express my sincerest appreciation for
your posting of our story, except to say that in doing so, you too,
along with the Caramor Newfoundlands, will greatly assist Bubbles and
I in attempting to touch the hearts of those who think that no one
cares about them or that there is no help out there at all.

There truly are Angels among us. We just have to believe. They show up
in different sizes, shapes, colors, sexes, .................. and even
breeds. My Angel is big, black, beautiful, bouncy, bubbly and comes
with a heart as big as Texas. She is my Newfoundland dog - my guardian
angel - my truest friend, my Bubbles.

It is in teaching that we learn. Similarly, it is in reaching out that
we heal. That said, please feel absolutely free to associate my
personal email address with the article, as helping others is a
healthy form of healing one's self.

God bless you for your kind heart. Our sincerest best wishes for
continued good health and happiness for you, Linda, and for your
beautiful Caramor Newfoundlands."

Val Frost and Bubbles, my Newfoundland Service Dog
Email:    val.ladyhawk.frost4@gmail.com

 

 

 

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