Meet Coach, a seizure alert and tracking service dog, for his remarkable partner, Mimi. The two graduated together as part of the 2024 Violet Class, and their story is one of profound transformation and the incredible power of a service dog.
Mimi is a bright, brave young girl who faces medical challenges that have required frequent and often traumatic hospital visits. Before Coach entered her life, hospital stays were filled with anxiety and resistance. But now, with Coach by her side, everything has changed.
“I’m not sure how to measure the life-changing impact that Coach has had,” Mimi’s mom, Sarah, shared. “Before Coach, Mimi and her world existed, and you were only invited in if she wanted you to be. Coach has bridged that gap for her, not only with opening up, but in her communication and interaction with others.”
During a recent hospital stay, Sarah witnessed a version of Mimi she hadn’t seen before.
“She leaned on Coach as a way to cope with her fears, and the comfort he gave her was obvious,” Sarah explained. “He was even able to alert in the hospital to a seizure in time for staff and our family to prepare for it.”
Coach is more than a medical helper, he’s Mimi’s best friend and her link to the world around her. Together, they are a living example of the mission of 4 Paws for Ability: to provide life-changing service dogs to those who need them most.
“These dogs are not just dogs,” Sarah said. “They are a bridge to the rest of the world that children like Mimi can have trouble crossing. They offer the chance at a new normal, in a positive way, and the comfort of their presence for their person will change that person’s world. It might seem small to you, but to our family, the impact they have is huge.”