Service dog becomes teen's best friend
Updated: January 28, 2013
MATTOON -- A family hopes to help others. Their story starts with a phone call no parent wants to get.
"We got a call and went in for some tests."
His son was born with a heart disease. After surgery, he had a stroke. He's been disabled every since and needed a service dog. But, the family was drowning in medical bills and wasn't sure what to do. WCIA-3's Megan Brilley spent the day with the family.
Training a dog can cost thousands, in some cases, up to $20,000. It's money the Munro family didn't have. They stumbled on a support group offering to train their pet dog for $800. Now, they want to let other families know, they're not alone and have options.
"He was only a month old."
It's been a long journey for the Munro family. Donald's son, Joey, was born with congenital heart disease. He's had nine open heart surgeries and two brain operations.
"We had our ups and downs."
Joey is now a freshman in high school. But, his disability has made life hard.
"Rough. Scared. Lonely."
When Joey was going into middle school, his parents decided he needed help getting around. They researched service dogs and were scared they'd never be able to afford one.
But then, Joey's mom found a support group called CHASA. It helps families with children who've had strokes. It offered to train their dog, Daisy. Now, she goes everywhere with Joey.
"She became part of the family."
She carries his books and helps him through hallways at school.
"She's like one of the kids. I've grown attached to her."
But, more than that, she's become this young man's best friend.
"She's like a friend and someone who can always be there."
Daisy has not only become part of the family, but she's close with a lot of students at the school. They're even going to take a picture of her and put it in the yearbook.
For more information about affordable training, click here.
"We got a call and went in for some tests."
His son was born with a heart disease. After surgery, he had a stroke. He's been disabled every since and needed a service dog. But, the family was drowning in medical bills and wasn't sure what to do. WCIA-3's Megan Brilley spent the day with the family.
Training a dog can cost thousands, in some cases, up to $20,000. It's money the Munro family didn't have. They stumbled on a support group offering to train their pet dog for $800. Now, they want to let other families know, they're not alone and have options.
"He was only a month old."
It's been a long journey for the Munro family. Donald's son, Joey, was born with congenital heart disease. He's had nine open heart surgeries and two brain operations.
"We had our ups and downs."
Joey is now a freshman in high school. But, his disability has made life hard.
"Rough. Scared. Lonely."
When Joey was going into middle school, his parents decided he needed help getting around. They researched service dogs and were scared they'd never be able to afford one.
But then, Joey's mom found a support group called CHASA. It helps families with children who've had strokes. It offered to train their dog, Daisy. Now, she goes everywhere with Joey.
"She became part of the family."
She carries his books and helps him through hallways at school.
"She's like one of the kids. I've grown attached to her."
But, more than that, she's become this young man's best friend.
"She's like a friend and someone who can always be there."
Daisy has not only become part of the family, but she's close with a lot of students at the school. They're even going to take a picture of her and put it in the yearbook.
For more information about affordable training, click here.
