But here's the thing. The little girl, Maya Pieters? She has bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria, also known as congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome.
Schuyler's monster.
Her BPP manifests itself very differently from Schuyler's. Unlike Schuyler, this little girl suffers from seizures, frequent and serious. Also unlike Schuyler, however, she speaks.
I don't really have much of a reason for posting this here, except that it occurred to me as I was watching the video that it was the first time I've ever watched video of (much less met in person) another child with BPP. How strange it was to hear her speak.
Also, Schuyler's dog, Max? Totally useless. Sorry, dude.
'Thrown Away' Dog Saves Little Girl's Life
By Laurie LaMonica
December 30, 2008
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. -- When the Pieters family adopted Jack, a dog once left to die in a dumpster, they hoped he would act as a constant companion to their daughter, Maya.
They never considered that the Terrier mix would also save the little girl's life, on more than one occasion.
Jack's loyalty -- and keen senses -- have proved that one person's trash can truly become another's treasure.
Just ask 8-year-old Maya, who inspired her family's trip to the Humane League of Lancaster County in 2004. When the Pieters saw how seamlessly Maya bonded with Jack, he had nowhere to go but out of the kennel, and into their home.
"Maya was down on her knees and her face as close to the gate as can be and he's licking her and I heard Maya talk more then to him then she had in a whole week," recalled Maya's mother, Michelle Pieters, of their first encounter with the dog.
The connection was exceptional for the young girl, whose condition forces her to struggle with normal oral and social functions.
When Maya was 3-years-old she was diagnosed with congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome, an extremely rare condition that only 100 to 200 people in the world are reported to have.
The disease affects Maya's oral motor functions -- such as speech and swallowing -- and could cause seizures. But it also took a toll on Maya's self esteem. Always left out by other children, Maya became very withdrawn at a young age.
Maya's speech therapist, Donna Buss, suggested the Pieters family get a dog in 2003. She thought it might benefit Maya's socialization skills. Buss says Maya's shyness made their sessions difficult -- at the time, very little progress was being made.
So the Pieters launched a search to adopt the perfect dog. It took one year to find one that Maya felt comfortable with -- but the wait, in the end, was all the more worthwhile.
Though flea infested and dirty, Jack was the miracle for which the Pieters were searching.
Maya bonded with Jack instantly and the connection would prove more significant than Maya or her parents could have ever predicted.
Jack was sleeping in his crate one morning last year, when suddenly, without apparent provocation, he leaped from his bed and darted up the steps to Maya's room. The door was closed, but Jack sensed that Maya was inside -- and that she, for whatever reason, needed help.
The dog began to relentlessly claw and bark at the door, until Maya's family took notice of the dog's frantic state.
Jack, the Pieters realized, knew exactly what he was doing. Maya was found in her room, having her first seizure in her sleep.
Jack's urgent response to Maya's seizure probably saved her life, as the seizure was a new, unprecedented symptom of her condition.
The Pieters took to calling the little shelter dog "Maya's guardian angel."
Since that first episode, Maya has suffered other seizures. Each time, Jack has been able to preemptively sense when Maya is about to have a seizure. He has broken her fall, sat on top of her to help settle her convulsing body, and when she finally wakes up, licks her tears dry.
Jack has helped Maya in other ways as well. Upon adopting the dog, Maya's oral motor functions have improved drastically. Before Jack, Maya did not speak very often and was very sensitive to her face being touched.
Jack has helped Maya overcome these problems with routine face lickings, playtime and simply standing in as Maya's constant companion.
All of these accomplishments led to Jack's nomination for the Humane Society of the United State's "Valor Dog of the Year," an award to honor and celebrate dogs that have performed extraordinary acts of courage.
Jack competed against heroic dogs across the country, and although he didn't win the main prize, he was granted the "People's Choice" award.
Jack may have no idea he is nationally known for his good deeds. All he knows is someone once gave up on him, threw him away like a piece of trash.
And now, he is loved by a family, cherished by a little girl. In return, as much as Maya Pieters gave him a new chance at life, Jack has given her the same gift, as well.
18 comments:
OK, I admit it...I'm a sucker for warm, fuzzy dog stories. And this was a good one. Thanks for posting it.
How can you say that dog is useless? I dont understand that. Seems to me that dog is as important to that little girl as the box of words is to your daughter. Or were you just saying you dont care for little yappie dogs? Maggs
How can you say that dog is useless? I dont understand that.
Clearly you don't. I said Schuyler's dog, Maxie. Not this dog. It was a joke. I mean, come on.
Seems to me that dog is as important to that little girl as the box of words is to your daughter.
Here's a new suggestion. Before being snotty, make sure you understand what I said. To paraphrase an old carpentry rule of thumb, "Read twice, post once."
Wow...thanks for making me bawl.
Made me cry again, Rob. You do have a way with that.
It must have been bittersweet (or some similar term) to hear her speak, and to think how her monster, though the same variety, differs from Schuyler's. I imagine that speechlessness is better than severe seizures in the grand scheme of things though... if you had a choice.
Maybe Max will rise to the occasion if Schuyler ever starts exhibiting them, you never know. It must be something in the body chemistry scent that changes when a seizure is imminent, that the dogs are detecting.
Yaaaay, Jack!
I love this story. Thanks.
ah, there is NOTHING like a doggie.
For some reason, the thing that I found most interesting was the fact that they said their daughter was withdrawn because of her condition, while you've always described Schuyler as being sort of a little rock star. It happens on the board for my daughter's condition too - parents want to compare experiences, but kids with big problems are just as much individuals as kids without them and so one child's reaction to an issue can be completely different than another's because of who they are as people.
I love this story, but then, I'm a sucker for animals. It really is weird how the same monster can attack in so many different ways, though
I was not being "snotty" (such an ugly word) - I was asking an honest question. I truly am sorry if I offended you. I misunderstood what you wrote. Well, this will teach me not to comment on your blog. I guess this is goodbye - best of luck with your little girl, she seems nice. Maggs
Rob, thanks for posting this. What an awesome story!
~Meg in Los Angeles
Kind of off the topic of the monster; but we adopted a dog who was thrown away--hit by a car, now only has three legs--and he's the greatest, sweetest doggie in the world. :) One man's trash is most certainly another man's treasure.
I love stories like this! I will never understand how people can just throw a living thing away. I mean, I know animals aren't "people", but every pet I've had through the years has been a huge part of the family.
I've heard stories about dogs and seizures before. I think there are actually certain breeds who are more sensitive. I'd love to read more about what exactly is at work here, chemical-wise!
Awwww! He's so cute! And he's her GUARDIAN ANGEL!
Bet you liked that part, Rob!
ok...now, i'm all teary-eyed...
When I worked at city hall, we had a frequent visitor who had a seizure dog. We saw her a lot because she had a hard time being allowed into city facilities with her dog. People told her dogs weren't allowed and pooh-poohed hte idea of a seizure dog. But lo and behold, this dog always knew when she was about to have one, and would make her sit or lie down. It was pretty amazing and if I didn't see it myself I wouldn't have believed it.
I am so glad to read this. I have a 7 year old daughter, Cassidy, with CBPS. She does not, speak or walk, and she has seizures. Some in her sleep. She is super sweet and loves animals. I am going to look into getting her a dog.
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