Blade, the self-taught service dog, has helped his mom, Nicole-Sian, immensely with her health complications. Now, she needs a miracle for the boy she describes as her miracle.
Benoni, South Africa (13 November 2024) — Nicole-Sian Reynolds didn’t expect to return back from her holiday in Mozambique with a dog who would change her life. But if you believe in fate, it was certainly evident the day her path crossed with Blade’s.
Initially, Blade was supposed to be an addition to her Aunt’s life. But, after a long drive with Blade back home to Benoni, it was evident that he only had eyes for Nicole-Sian.
After a few months with her Aunt, she decided to give Blade back to his chosen mom. It was a moment Nicole-Sian refers to as their “second miracle”.
“In the past 8 years Blade, or as I call him Floopy, Lovely, Lovey-Bum, has grown to be a giant, ultra soft-hearted loving and goofy boy. He is obedient to a fault. And is my companion, protector and peace,” she shares.
See, Blade proved not just to be an excellent friend, but a clever one too. Nicole-Sian explains that she has “multiple complex health problems”; problems that Blade did not gaze over but rather came to be very aware of to the point where he’s considered a self-taught service dog!
“Blade taught himself to be a service dog. He has no training. No accreditation. I do not take him out with me. But he will wake me when I have an asthma attack in my sleep. He signals to me if he senses I am going to faint and if I do faint or fall, he checks my breathing and will go and find help. If he can’t see help nearby, he will make a noise. And as a 50kg hound, that noise is loud,” Nicole-Sian—who deals with Autoimmune diseases, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, asthma and severe mobility issues—explains.
She adds that above and beyond his helpful nature, he has even protected her multiple times from domestic abuse from an ex-partner.
“And I can only ever scrape the surface of his service as an emotional support and pure unconditional love as all animals are, through my chronic pain, abuse, divorce and CPTSD. He is my miracle.”
But, now Blade needs a miracle of his own.
Blade has been diagnosed with lumbar-sacral disease, which means the deterioration of his lower spine. As such, his spinal cord nerves are being suppressed, impacting his back legs, tail and bladder.
“His usually waggy tail barely wags anymore,” Nicole-Sian says.
Nicole-Sian explains that she has not been able to work for years and is reliant on her parents who are both semi-retired. While typical animal healthcare needs have not been a problem, the surgery Blade needs is more than her family can afford.
“I strongly believe that when you take an animal into your care, into your family, you owe them every chance you would give any other family member. I can’t bare or countenance the idea of euthanising my son when in every other respect, he’s still a happy, healthy boy. He has years left to his life. And he deserves to live them pain free.”
“I owe him so much,” she adds.
Nicole-Sian has a BackaBuddy running to support Blade’s surgery. She is crowdfunding for R65,000 and any contributions can be made, here.
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