Nala (Ann)

On a hot June night, a cold, wet nose nudged my hand and I knew that God had not forgotten me.

When I made the decision to start my journey of getting a service dog, I was in a bad place—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I had just gone through a laparoscopy for endometriosis as well as a devastating breakup with my ex-fiancé whom I had been dating for 7 years. He had informed me that he no longer wanted to marry me (he had found someone else) six months prior to our scheduled wedding day, just two weeks prior to my surgery, and the same day as finals for my first semester of graduate school. To say that I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. I had been considering getting a service dog for several months and after much prayer and deliberation, I felt that familiar push from the Holy Spirit.

I put together my application with a renewed sense of purpose. I was certain that I was following God’s plan for me and I was excited to get started. However, when I went to discuss it with my doctor who had to submit medical documentation along with my application, he informed me that he had “a pet dog” and didn’t see “how his dog could help anyone.” I tried to explain to him how a mobility assistance dog would be specifically trained and could help me a great deal when the pain is so bad that I physically can’t move and am doubled over. This special dog could fetch the items that I needed (medicine, water, my cell phone, etc.) or even fetch someone to help me. He reluctantly signed the papers and his response led me to find another doctor who would proceed to offer me treatment options that would give me my life back (my first “holy moment” from my journey with Nala).

After an interview with Fidos for Freedom, Inc., I was offered a spot on the training floor just a few months later. The panel was a bit hesitant during the interview as they had never helped someone with my condition before and certainly not someone who was as young and relatively healthy-looking as I was. What if this was just a passing phase? How helpful would this service dog be if I seemed to be managing well from superficial observations? Did I understand that people may question why I have a service dog when I don’t look disabled? However, no amount of hesitation or questioning dissuaded me. I kept feeling the Holy Spirit pushing me.

Finally, the day arrived for my first training session. I was so excited and nervous. My parents have always been my biggest supporters and they went with me to this training (a big step for my dad, especially, who had always been afraid of dogs since he had been attacked by one as a child). I was handed the leash of a beautiful, sweet black Labrador Retriever named Nala. She had the most gentle, peaceful spirit and it immediately put me at ease. When she nudged my hand, I genuinely smiled for the first time in over a year. By the end of the first training session, I kept saying that she was the dog for me. The trainers reminded me that that’s not how the process works. I would have to complete 60 hours of training with various dogs ready to be matched before the trainers would assign a match for me. However, I felt certain that Nala was the dog for me.

We were officially matched on November 1, 2014—the Feast of All Saints Day. I can’t think of a more appropriate date to have been matched with my sweet Nala. She has brought about so many “holy moments” and inspired myself and others around us to strive for sainthood. I am humbled to think that when I was going through one of the most difficult times in my life and questioning God, hundreds of miles away in North Carolina, He was knitting together Nala’s beautiful soul and designing her to be a special companion for me. God designed her to open up my eyes to “holy moments” and see the joy and beauty in life again. He designed her to help me to reconnect with Him and follow His paths. What a loving God we have to give such a gift that would open my eyes and steer me back into His open, compassionate arms!

I am looking forward to sharing those many “holy moments” that I have experienced with Nala in future stories! Peace and joy, Ann