Where James Isaac goes, Mahe follows – even into the boy's
hospital bed.
The 9-year-old Wellington boy is autistic and relies on the
black Labrador to keep him safe and calm.
James cannot speak, and recoils from touch and eye contact
with his family.
But he will curl up happily with Mahe.
“And for Mahe, James is his best mate, he is all about
James," mum Michelle Isaac said.
So important is the bond that Mahe was allowed to join
James at the Wellington Children's Hospital as he underwent an MRI scan to
diagnose the cause of his seizures.
As he went under general anesthetic, Mahe watched with
concern, nuzzling his master's face.
"He was just looking at James, and looking really
worried."
As Michelle waited in the hospital cafe for the scan to
end, Mahe sat beside her, calming the mother as he had calmed the son.
"I was really shaken, it was pretty stressful watching
James struggle."
Life for the Isaac family has improve immensely since Mahe
came into their lives, 2½ years ago.
Michelle said going out into public with James used to be
nightmare. He was likely to run off and lose the plot in any unfamiliar or
over-stimulating involvement.
"We couldn't even go to a cafe as a family. James
would get very anxious and want to leave immediately. But when we got Mahe,
James would just sit there waiting for us to finish our coffee."
To read more on this story, click here: 9-Year-Old Boy with Autism Relies on His Service Dog to Keep Him Safe and Calm While in theHospital
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