Lighting The Way
A meant-to-be friendship.
Backpacks brush her shoulders; sneakers shuffle by— the school bell rings, and cheerful voices echo off lockers. Emily makes out a blurred view of the commotion. Feeling stuck in a bubble, separated by her vision loss. Isolated.
She wonders: How is it possible to exist in a high school hallway bustling with classmates yet still feel so alone?
It’s a life she’s grown accustomed to; all Emily has ever known.
“Sometimes people don’t know how to act around me because of my vision,” she says. “I’ve always dealt with isolation in school. I’ve had some rough days.”
As a high schooler, Emily felt a spark of hope when she attended Guide Dog Teen Camp.
Perhaps a guide dog could help. Maybe, she wondered.
Then, life changes rolled in—applying to college, selecting a major, preparing for dorm life—and her anxiety stacked higher. The pressure sunk deeper.
But a twinkle of possibility shimmered as she considered her experience at camp.
Now is the time, she thought.
Right on cue, guide dog John arrived—gently breaking through the invisible barrier, stepping into her space of solitude.
As Emily settles into college life, that little voice of anxiety still sometimes whispers. The flashes of fear tug at her mind, but John rests his soft chin on her knee and reminds her she’s not alone.
He’ll even let out a few of his endearing grumbles just to talk to her and watch her smile grow confidence in bloom.
“It’s amazing how much he helps me,” Emily says. “I knew he would, but hearing about guide dogs and then experiencing it myself—those are two entirely different things.”
Now, when voices surround her on campus, Emily reaches for the harness, knowing she has a partner at her side. A constant reminder that she’ll never be alone in a crowd. John watches her, guides her—and his very name tells her a story of connection. A story from years past…
Just before Emily’s grandfather passed away, when she was only an infant, her dad made a special request. ‘Will you watch over my babies?’ Her grandfather, John, gave a resounding yes.
A yes that now walks on four paws, her grandfather’s namesake, promising a guiding light through a world where Emily no longer feels invisible.
Spark Hope
It takes one spark of generosity to change a life. When you give, your kindness illuminates new beginnings for those who need our dogs. Light breaks through, and healing begins. Give today and let hope shine. Thank you!
