Katie Taylor

We decided that as Katie was a teenager and still needed her own space that our dining room would be better suited to being her new bedroom, so another bed was ordered along with a mobile hoist to move her in and out of her new wheelchair.  This wheelchair was the most comfortable thing we'd ever seen with padded back, seat, arm and head rest. Bloods were taken weekly by Jane.  Usually in the morning and by the afternoon we were able to ring up QMC and get the results.  These would show us what was happening on the inside, the platelets, neutrophils, red and white cells all telling their own stories.

April 27th saw Katie achieve something really special to her and very close to her heart.  It was the test day for the bronze, silver and gold Good Citizen Dog Awards in Alfreton Park. 

Katie had wanted a Great Dane since being small, and always the answer was no, but back in November her Dad relented and decided if thats what she wanted then she could have one.  After all with 6 dogs at home already what difference would another make?  So Katie did all her homework on what she specificly wanted, colour, sex, size and temperament and found a breeder who bred the lines she wanted.  Unfortunately he had no pups, but managed to put us in touch with a friend of his who had the same lines and had a litter.  After a trip into the wilds of Staffordshire, we came home with Faith.  She was 16 weeks old and had legs to match any super-model. Blonde and beautiful she became Katies chief confidant in the darkest hours. Waiting to be asked to climb into the air bed for a cuddle; she was so calm; so patient with fumbling hands trying to link collar to lead from a wheelchair. Her manners impecable thanks to  Judith, a dog trainer in a million.

The day of the test arrived.  Bloated by the drugs, Katie  was nervous, but calm and positive. An hour before having the community transport collect us had seen the catheter line caught in the bed sheets and pulled loose. Kate was in agony. An emergency call to the district nurse followed. Ten mnutes later she arrived and fitted a new cathetar, with Katie saying "Just do it - I cant feel that much and I've got to be in Alfreton Park!". What an amazingly courageous young lady she was.   Judith (known as "just the dog trainer") had been working with Katie to see what thy could achieve.  Faith worked well as usual, walking at the side of Katies wheelchair and to cut a long story short; earned both her bronze and silver awards on the same day. We were all so very proud of her