Lesa's Journal

All the Mojo I have for you and your family.
Weebs xoxoxoxoxo

My heart goes out to you & your dad.My good friend had Alz,& she benefitted from being in quiet places.Too much noise really made her nervous.She loved dancing,& would listen to music for hours.Yu have been waging a strong battle for your health,please don't let that ungrateful family member steal your joy & contentment.Better to distance yourself from him as he'll never change & you don't need the aggravation. I just can't believe how SMART your Hope is! Already learning to unlatch a door.What a smart little angel she is.Wish I could watch her tearing about w/her squeaky toys.Lots of laughter in your home,isn't there?!I am happy for you both :)HUgs Hugs

Oh gosh I really hate to hear abbout your dad.
I have worked a lot with Alzeimers patients and it is a horific disease. He must live in constant fear and frustration.
Good to hear Hope is blooming into the wonderful dog she was meant to be.
Glad to hear she keeps you sane and you keep her loved!!
HUGS!!!

Hi Lesa, sorry things are getting more and more complicated for you and your family. My FIL has the big "A", but he doesn't think we know about it. Is really sad. Your new baby sounds so happy!! Wish I could get a new baby, but hubby says no. We already have two hounds and a cat,RATS!! Hang tough sweetie hugs sandy

SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR DAD BUT YOU ARE SO RIGHT LOOKING TO FAR DOWN THE ROAD CAN BE DEPRESSING! BIG HUGS LOVE DEBY

So sorry about your dad. I need to go back and check my list of supplements, one of them is supposed to help Alz patients retain more brain function.
I think Hope will turn out to be a better service dog than Yeats would have been, because she is working out of a place of love and a shared life. Yeats was training to be a push button dog. Hope's love for you, and yours for her will teach her more about helping you than the sterile, high priced mehtods the service dog people use.
Love to you, your dad, and Hope.

Sorry about your Dad Lesa.Your right in saying its better to just take life a day at a time.
I so understand about how greed can overtake ppl/family. I have seen it in my family as well.
Hope sounds fun and I know she brings you joy.......hugs

My heart goes out to you and your Dad (((Hugs)))
You are in my thoughts and in my prayers~Love,Maria

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*FOREVER~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*HUGS~*~*~*~*~*~*~* *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*FOR~*~*~*~*~*~*~* *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*YOU*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~

sending you love and my prayers.

awwww lesa im sorry your being put in this position ,especialy with everything thats going on with your dad ,gese ,people can be sooooooooo selfish ,right??
I hope the person c ausing you the stress will back off ,and realise life is what you make it ,or dont as the case may be!(always one bad apple in the cart ,right?).
Just knew hope was going to fit in with you ,she recognises just what a great change you`ve given her ,i knew she`d respond by being the sweet loving dog she always was ,but never given the change to show before.
saying a prayer for you and your sweet dad ,i know how hard it was when my nan had altzeimers ,but your right ,one day at a time ,and keeping to a familiar routine ,will make all the difference.
Take care ,love and big hugs to you and little hope!!
Always here for you mb ,yb ,always ,sharon xoxoxox

Your Hope reminds me of our Bo. Russ brought the dog to bed with us earlier when I took my nap and he slept before going to work. Bo, the dog, hates storms. I swear it seems like he shakes when it is just raining. He was so funny the first couple times he picked up each toy out of the basket in the corner of the room. He had been here for weeks and not noticed them. One day, I see him going back and forth (on the other side of the sofa). He has done this with the blinds' cord while looking for the rabbits one who likes to sleep behind the sofa. It is like he thought the toys, or the cord was going to come running after him and attack him. So back to this day when he discovered the toys. After half an hour, he finally pulls a toy out of the basket and then he goes back in with all his courage to check out another toy. He gets this one out, and in he goes again to that combat zone to rescue another one. And Bo does this over and over, until there are so many on the floor and some have been lovingly placed in the comfort of the sofa. Then Bo pulls out the purple monkey (these are kids toys that I found very cheap one day), the monkey is rescued and placed in front of my recliner. He goes in to give it cpr, and it squeals loudly at him. Bo, runs out of the room, Cinn, our other dog, runs into the room. Then Bo comes back and they both look at the monkey but do not attempt cpr again. They decide to access the situation and announce that it is just to dangerous to proceed.

So we all watch both dogs move the animals (toys) around the room. They go up on the sofa, then down to the floor. They go up and down, from sofa to sofa, but they stay in the living room.

A few days later, I start swiffering the floow with a wet pad. I do the other rooms, pick up the toys in the living room, and then I rest. The next day, I start again (actually it was two days later), and I get the pad on the mop and walk into the living room, Bo, has pulled all the toys out of the basket in about 30 seconds.

I go ahead and clean the floor, just pushing the toys around, the floor, sometimes on top of the mop, and Bo keeps watch to make sure that I do not hurt his babies.

And the saga will continue the next time it is time to do the floor again.

I am sorry about your dad. My mother has dementia and it is hard to have a conversation with her over the phone or in person. I am not sure that she realizes that some moments are more lucid than others.

Hugs to you.

Sending prayers for your Dad. You as well enter my prayers very often as I know how helpless one feels if they can't fix things when someone they love is hurting.
He knows you love him Lesa, and that will do much to steady him on bad days.
Thats NO SMALL THING, try to be comforted by this.

My love to dad, you and Hope.
Wish there was something I could do.
Things don't seem fair right now, but they will in time.
You're a wonderful daughter and dad knows that. That's his comfort now.
It should be yours too. You don't ever have to doubt yourself.
I wish Jim could find peace in his life, but unfortunately he's trying to find it in external places and he'll always end up coming out short. That's sad, really.
There's not a thing you can do to change him.
Just live your life the way you do and let him go. You don't have to be his victim.
He's his own.
I love you and I'm always pulling for you. I'm sending out big hugs for dad too.
He's a special person in my heart. Without him, there wouldn't be a you.
He did good.

I am hoping you will be very strong too! It is good to see the terrible face now changed to feeling OK face. Sounds like you may be spoiling Hope just a wee bit? LOL. Good for you... I would too. I will keep your Dad in my prayers... just keep reminding him to take one day at a time. Love and hugs, Debbie

I am so happy Hope is being such a pleasure to you. We all need something in our lives to cheer us up. I have always thought dementia would be a terrible thing to deal with. Unfortunately I see it beginning in my two of three sisters left. It's early yet. One I think just has too much of a load. She is 74 & raising her 5 year old greatgrand daughter. And she is a pistol.
Regarding your treatments, I just wondered what the meds were & how often you have them. Right now Bill can't do anything. His kids want him to go to re-hab where he can get dialysis, cathed & his fusion until he gets some strenth back. The wife says he's not going anywhere. 50% of his worsening is due to her not wanting him in the hospital until he is in dreadfull states. But he goes along with her. So I don't know if Social Services will step in or not. They threatened to before. He has got so dependant on her just being there he won't go anywhere without her. He knows about the mistakes she's made so I don't know what will happen

Love to you & your Dad, Judy P.S. Hope Also

Mum has vascular dementia and like your dad, gets a bit frustrated. I'm an only child so 'estate' etc isn't an issue. The last thing you need really, is problems on that front. I'm glad Hope's proving a good stress reliever for you. I've always wanted a cat myself but it's a bit difficult. It's amazing the good company a pet can be though.

My grandfather had alzheimers and it was very hard to see him decline. You are so right to get him to try to focus on getting through one day at a time. It is very overwhelming for them to try to look so far into the future.
Hope is just a wonderful blessing for you. She will be much more to you that just a service dog. I know that there is someone out there willing to step up to the plate to help you with training Hope. I am praying about that one. Is it ok with you if I write a couple of letters asking for a volunteer? If so, I will need your name and address. Will you pm it to me? Waiting to hear back from you about this.
Love Ya,
Rhonda

I know this is hard. How could something like this not be. Still it is wonderful that your Dad has those around him that love him and will be there for him. When the doc's told Russ my White matter disease was progressive and I could lose my memory...He was so good to me. I told him I worried I would forget who he was... He said and this is something I really hold on to...That it doesn't mean He will forget who I am...That he will be the one to hold me. I am doing well and my meds seem to be helping. Still it is a frightening thing...That is why I write down stories so I can read them or he can and my life experiences won't be lost. Love to you and to Hope. I love hearing about her and her puppy ways. Huggles my dear friend.

I've got you and your dad in my prayers. My MIL had A's disease and I know first hand, it is tough on everyone. Your dad with his frustration and especially knowing he can'[t remember things and people that he should. Oh Lesa, it gets very hard. Close confined meetings seemed to work the best. When I would go to the Assisted living, where she lived after the DX, she went through all the stages that people talk about and it never got easier. Loud talking or loud crowds got to her very easily, so we were careful not to expose her to too much of that. I made sure we showed her lot's of unconditional love and soft hugs, squeezes and tender kisses to show our love to her.

HOPE is just the perfect friend we all knew she would be! Hope was a gift from our Higher Power, as He knew that you needed a special friend and He sent you HOPE! I just feel this was a 'Holistic Experience'. And THAT'S THAT! Take care, Carol

I'm glad things are going well for you on this latest round of treatments. Take care of yourself!

Glad you are doing better and Hope you show them all just how smart you are I new she was a winner.HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KATHY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

I am glad you have Hope to brighten your days.It is great news that your neuro gave you the meds you need.Keep up your strength & have a good sleep tonite.HUGs to you & Hope.

Ok, I am very concerned along with you about your dad, Alzheimer's is so hard.

But you said CAKE.

Sending Mojo to your dad, and you, and Hope.

Now where's the cake.
; )
Weebs xoxoxoxoxo

Oh Lesa... I am in tears of happiness that this treatment was good... you are feeling stronger and have less pain. Yayyyyy! BIG HAPPY HUG TO YOU. Sorry your Dad is not doing ok, but it is certainly understandable for him to be afraid... and I know how you knowing that must make you so sad. But I believe he will find comfort and peace. We all get afraid when our bodies fail... and it IS frustrating to see someone else so afraid... all we can do is comfort them .. can you phone him?
A party sounds good.... I am quite hungry and cake sounds good. I will bring strawberry shortcake. Must go now and wish Kathy a Happy Birthday. Stay strong there woman, your little dog needs you... as much as you need her. :) Hugs~Debbie

Hee hee!!! You just have to love the way Weebs has her priorities in check!!! You said CAKE!!!!! LOL!
Glad to hear this treatment is over.
So Hope is trying to talk...hee hee!! what a sweety!!
HUGS to you both
Wendy

I'm so glad you got a good batch and Hope sounds like such a joy!

Sorry about your dad. :( Sending prayers.

Many hugs to you.
~*~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! YUMMY I DO HOPE ITS CHOCLATE,,THERE GOES THE DIET BUT YOUR WORTH IT HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! LOVE DEBY

hugs ..hope sounds great .love you my friend. love marie

Having been through the A thing...there will be good days and bad and weeks etc. Keep the memories of the good days....Like I need to tell you that.

I am so glad you are feeling stronger anytime that happens it is always good.

Of course Hope is learning new things everyday she has a Mom that has sacrificed for her and she knows that.

We love you and I am married, but parties are fun and a little eye candy never hurt nobody LOL.

Think of me from time to time .... love you

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*FOREVER~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*HUGS~*~*~*~*~*~*~* *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*FOR~*~*~*~*~*~*~* *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*YOU*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~

So glad you have some days with less pain!! And I do hope you get better pain killers soon. Your puppy Hope sounds so cute!! I'll check to see if you posted any pics. Oh your dad he must be so scared with the confusion that that disease brings with it. Sounds like your brother is a good guy helping out like that.....but oh I know the frustration of my little brother....we do not see eye to eye on tons of things. We love them though right.....I know you do. :) Happy birthday to Kathy too! I think I'll send her a belated hug today.
A party sounds good!! We just had a little fun spontaneous one in my journal the other day......I laughed all day long!
Much love, Robyn

I am praying for your dad. I remember when my mom was so sick. It was very scary trying to figure out what was best for her especially when the docs kept telling us different things from day to day.

Baby says it is definately time for another party! She really wants to party with Hope. :-)

Glad your treatment went well and you are doing better.
Your new dog Hope sounds so cute. Prayers for you Dad
with his daily struggles. Love, Shell

glad you are doing better and your treatment is over. hope must be getting really settled and gaining lots of wieght by now.

Love the cake... Even tho I haven't met her, will give SocalMom a b/d hug.

Happy to hear you got a presc. for better pain meds.

Good to hear your through your treatment and you are feeling better and stronger and that you got the pain med you need.
Hope sounds like a Great dog.I just Know she is going to be a great service/companion/friend dog for you.Hope your Dad gets to feeling better.Happy Birthday to your friend.Cake and Ice Cream life doesnt get much better than that.......hugs

I am sorry about your dad.

I love the cake and ice cream for your friends. That is so sweet.

I"m still licking the buttercream off the spatula.
It was a great party girls.
Thanks Lees, you always throw the best ones.
Now, where did Julie and that cabana boy go??? Hmmmmm???

Oh Geez Lesa... So sorry.
Hugs and Mojo to you and Hope.
Weedbs xoxoxoxoxo

Lesa Im so sorry these heartless people are treating you so bad .I do admire you for standing up for Hope .I really dont see what Hope has to do with you getting a service dog sounds like a bunch of idiots that train these dogs.I still say 7 ON YOUR SIDE needs to be contacted .Its not fair that the money raised for YOU to have the dog is now gone and its Thank you bull crap that money was ment for you and should either give you the dog or refund your money .Im sorry you are not feeling well today and Im sure this crap doesnt make matters any better .Tell that witch she may still get her story but the one she gets I dont think she will like to much .Hope you feel better soon my dear friend.Debbie

Good for JoAnn, it's easy to forget those things when you are busy thinking you are SuperWoman! LOL. No waiting, sending prayers that Marcia is well again. Too bad about Yeats but you are doing the right thing and that can't be wrong. The money will go to another deserving individual and the dog will be placed. Really no problem, they probably have a waiting list for dog placements. Too bad they aren't more compassionate and flexible, really. I still don't get why Quazar was okay but Hope isn't...they haven't met her how do they know she would be a distraction. Silly.
Good luck with treatments and sending prayers your way. Many hugs, too.
~*~

That just sucks Lesa, I'm so sorry. This org sounds a little...uh...I dunno...is there another org that trains service dogs you can contact?

You really don't need this, this is a horrible way to treat ill ppl.

*hugs*
shell

The answer to prayer doesn't always come with flowers & smiles,as in the service gp's case.Since non-profits are required by law to account for every penny of contributions,re-allocating project-specific donations w/o notifying donors for their permission is considered fraud.I know you just want it all to go away so you can concentrate on your treatments.Glad you have Hope's unconditional love to help you thru.Even tho she's just a puppy,all she lives for is to please you-& she seems to be doing a great job of it!HUGs********

Typical agency bull s*&t, is all that is. Sounds to me like they haven't a clue what they are doing, and don't have confidence in their own training abilities, or the quality of their dogs. Hope will do just fine. You can teach her with love, and she will respond in kind. You know dogs well enough to teach her more than these idiots will ever teach Yeats. And, you will have a loving companion who is not afraid to wag her tail, or play with her duckie. Hang in, and take care of yourself and Hope. The two of you will be just fine.

It's a pity I am way on the other side of the world. Their attitude makes me so angry I want to charge into their office and kick butt big time. She loves the dogs too much... yeah right. I assume her role in the organisation is a paid one? More likely she loves her pay packet too much. Of course you are right, money that was raised specifically so you could have a service dog should be refunded if the organisation is refusing to give you one. The problem here has to do with them... not you... and her only concern now is how to explain to people why they are refusing to send you the dog they promised you.

Oh Lesa I would so love for us to each write a letter. Nothing vulger but ascertive on how we each feel that they have let YOU down ....the person who they were suppose to help. Not the dog...you.
Also you have not let down their society, Yeats and the supporting sponsors, THEY have. I also feel that those people who have donated toward you and your service dog should be told why you know will not get one.

As a volunteer and supporter of many causes, I believe that it is the only professional ,responsible thing for a reputable association to do.

He or she says she loves the dogs too much for the dogs ..... well that is simple ...she just need to get over it like she wanted you to do. I do believe it is an ego ...pride thing.
Ridiculous.
If you give out the address I would love to write a letter but it is all up to you my friend.
Love Wendy

i am so sorry hun ilove you

Maybe YOU should call the press and put your story in the news and see what happens next?You did a noble and compassionate thing by rescuing Hope..who loves animals more than you do??

I am so sorry Lesa,
((((((((((((((*****!!!!~HUGS~!!!!*****))))))))))))))))

LESA - Honey, check with your local State Rehab and see if they will somehow help train HOPE. Also, contact your local government officials with the REAL STORY. Hey, and while you're at it, contact your local papers & tv media! That's a heck of a scoop.

Lesa,Hope will be a Great service dog for you.
I wouldnt want anything more to do with this orginazation.! Insensitive and out of touch with the truth.Dont let this get you down.Will keep you close in thought and prayer during your treatment my friend.......*softhugs*

Lesa, You NEED to take Action to get that money that was raised for you to be used to train Hope. Whatever you need to do....DO IT. Channel 7 still sounds good. I am SURE the people who donated to help you would be willing for that money to go to train Hope.
So sorry you are having a bad day, I sure understand that. I am having a LOT of pain today after the procedure, more that before. Dr. says that sometimes happens though. Going back to bed. Praying that you get those funds to use for Hope.
Love You,
Rhonda

With the very first sentence, that's exactly what I thought: "So this is all about YOU and your disappointment?" That has got to be the most out-of-touch person I've ever heard of. Please consider sharing her letter with the organizations doing the fund raising. She is unfit to be in either a position to make decisions in anything remotely associated with service, cruel, uninformed and deserving of exposure before she destroys someone who doesn't have the backbone and faith that you have.
It's a blessing she's so transparently selfish. Those aren't the kind of folk you wanna associate with. After all, this is how she acts when she needs your cooperation .... how bad does it get when she's got you over a barrel. Don't trust her and warn others if you have the strength.
I'm praying for your treatment to go well. Acting as you have on moral convictions has got to have some healing element to it. I'm proud of you, Lesa.

Lesa, in light of all you have learned, I strongly believe that you have been protected by her insensitivity. Two wrongs here may have made a right!!! Wrong #1 that they have a ruling which would have allowed them to snatch Yeats from you 10yrs from now and for reasons only they would determine! Wrong #2 their callous approach to HOPE..................add these together and you have possibly been protected from possible heartbreak down the road.

I'm sorry that Marcia is sick. I hope you have started your treatment by the time you read this. I think you should introduce Hope to the newspaper and tell the community of how much money was raised on your behalf and that they were abusive to you. You could even do a grand gesture and ask that the money be giving to a deserving person needing the dog that is not neccessarily picked by their orgranization. Take care.

IVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD OF YOU AS I AM RIGHT NOW, YOUR A GOOD PERSON AND HOPE WILL BE JUST FINE. MY FIRST ONE TOLD ME I CLD HAVE ANOTHER "PET" AS THE SERVICE ANIMALS ARE WORKING DOGS. NEEDLESS TO SAY RAGS WAS BOTH AND DEARLY LOVED HE LOOKED JUST LIKE THE PIC OF MARG'S DOGBUT MINE WAS A BIG BONED AUSSIE! GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING LOVE DEBY

heck buddy ,was it signed "jobsworth"??? We call them that here ,cos its "more than their jobsworth"!!
to behave so coldly towards both you and hope ,is a disgrace to their organisation.Carol is right ,you have been spared mnore heartache later on by people who shouldnt be doing this kind of work.
I belivce in you and hope.She was sent to you for a reason ,im positive it was fate intervening.
now ,you have plenty of time ,to teach hope how to help you ,as you have helped her.
together your going to make a formidable team mb ,and already you are both getting so much from one another.
take care ,i hope marcia will be better real soon ,and your treatments will make you much stronger and leave you feeling brighter.
cant wait to have a real chat ,love you mb ,loads ,sending you and hope big hugs ,yb always ,sharon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lesa,, I'm so sorry to hear what's been going on...I agree with everyone here. Anyone who says that dogs don't love shouldn't be in any position of any kind having to do with dogs. I'm sure sorry You had to deal with this on a treatment day, too. Much love and prayers and lots of hugs to you and Hope. She will show them! You both will be just fine!! Love and hugs, Kim xxoxo

Ya ask me... and if ya don't - I think you should talk to a lawyer. Under the circumstances - it seems to me - if they accepted money so that you could get a service dog, and they don't give you that dog... that's fraud. But, I'm not a lawyer.

Right now I don't have the time to play with google & get lost in it's vastness - but I have seen sites where you can get legal advice for free... and they seem like safe sites.

Suggest you google if and when you can... and I'll do the same when I have more time.