10 years ago, Erika experienced a stroke during surgery to remove a brain tumor, leaving her with short-term and long-term memory loss, partial vision loss and paralysis on her right side. Erika feels lucky to remember her wedding day — a milestone usually not easily forgotten. “It left me severely depressed, feeling like my life as I knew it was over,” Erika remembers. “But every day since, I wake up and choose to be brave.”
In 2020, Canine Companions service dog Kate turned Erika’s life around in ways she never thought possible. “Kate is my perfect match.”
When Erika and Kate met, Kate placed her paw on Erika’s paralyzed right arm. “The look she gave me felt like she was telling me she would always be there for me,” Erika recalls. “Receiving Kate is one of those great moments in life that I’ll never forget. She’s my soul dog.”
Together, Erika and Kate have busy days with greater independence. From using public transit to get into the community to tugging laundry into the bedroom or bringing Erika’s wheelchair from another room, Kate’s intuition means Erika can do more every day.
“She’s my right-hand girl…literally!”