Josie is helping Daniella to become a confident, outgoing person again

Josie made it!

Josie is a hearing dog!

She completed her training, and today is helping Daniella to forge ahead in her work, and become a confident, outgoing person again.

An invisible disability

“When I was 22, my family noticed I couldn’t make out the words on TV. I visited an audiologist who fitted me hearing aids. Over the next few years, several ENT and audiology appointments followed as my hearing kept dropping and I was told I have sensorineural hearing loss. There is damage to the hair cells which cannot grow back. Fifteen years later, my right ear is profoundly deaf, and my left ear is severe.

“Hearing aids help, but I find social situations difficult. I used to be very social, but as my hearing loss progressed, I found it hard to hear in noisy places. I had to meet just one or two friends at a time, because I would get exhausted trying to follow group conversations.

“I tried to ignore my ‘invisible disability’ but it eventually became so obvious. For example, I once struggled to hear someone who was very softly spoken. I kept saying ‘Pardon’, and she snapped ‘What is the problem, are you deaf?’ I was shell-shocked.

“Eventually I developed social anxiety. I just needed people to be more considerate towards me.

“I also dreaded nights. When I remove my hearing aids, so that my ears get a break, my hearing is very limited. I felt very unsafe, not knowing if there would be a fire, or someone could break in. It was a very real fear.”

Josie means life

Daniella smiles: “With Josie’s arrival things changed very rapidly.

“When we’re out together, people see that I may need assistance because of her burgundy coat. They even come up to me to chat because of her! In this way, she is also a social link for me. I call it ‘the Josie effect’.

“She has been so well matched to me. I’m a keen runner, and she loves running alongside. She also enjoys going to work with me, where she gets loads of attention. I am an accountant at a large firm, where they have been incredibly supportive of my disability and Josie.

“So, she’s brilliant emotionally, but she’s great practically too. She loves telling me about the doorbell – she makes sure I don’t miss it! She also alerts me to the fire alarm, which means I sleep much more restfully, and wake up with a smile every day.

“If I were to sum up Josie, it would be LIFE. I can now lead the life I want because of her.

“I feel privileged to be matched with this very special girl. I feel ‘connected’ again, to the world around me, and to the all wonderful people who made this possible.

“If I were in the room with you right now, I’d tell you all about life with Josie and her quirky ways. Thank you for your selfless act of sponsoring Josie. You are truly special – to both of us."

As one journey ends, another begins. It would be wonderful if you could consider sponsoring another puppy, and helping another deaf person like Daniella. However you decide, from all of us… thank you.