“A letter to those who donated to Linus, 4 Paws trainers, volunteers, foster family, and all of those who have poured the last 2 years of their time and energy into training Linus,
Over the last 48 hours we have experienced something so incredibly beautiful. Hospital stays are a norm for us, Maximus is no stranger in the epilepsy unit. However, although they’re our norm they are still really really hard. Maximus struggles with the leads on his head, the lack of sleep, the changes in routine, and usually the med changes that come during hospital stays.
As parents we often feel helpless and defeated watching him struggle to regulate himself during our hospital stays and busting out all the distraction tools we know to help get us through each passing minute.
Then entered, Linus.
Over the last 2 years so many people poured into Linus to prepare him for his big job. Every public outing, every seizure scent training, every search and rescue practice…. Every little command, every snuggle. Every second spent with Linus was intentional and prepared him for Maximus. We can’t ever say thank you enough. We are so grateful.
This stay was different, so different. Maximus was more calm, as parents we smiled and laughed watching the two of them together, the nurses and doctors lingered longer in our room to spend time learning about Maximus’ story and service dogs and all the ways Linus helps Maximus. It all felt lighter, even in the midst of the hard, there was and continues to be so much to be grateful for. One of those things is Linus We prayed for years for God to help us find ways to comfort Maximus and help ease hospital stays. And then God gave our boy, his Linus.
I never imagined all the ways Linus would help Maximus. I couldn’t have dreamt of a hospital stay where Maximus was calm. At times i pictured a service dog in the room with us, but never imagined the comfort Linus would bring to Maximus.
So thank you. Thank you to our friends and family for donating years ago to Maximus’ service dog. Thank you to the trainers and foster family. Thank you from the very very bottom of our hearts.”
-Heather, mom of Maximus & Linus, 4 Paws Service Dog Team