ivdd

Meet Colby: Another Recipient of the Frankie Wheelchair Fund

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_0674Perhaps you might have “met” Colby already if you are fans of Lovey Loaves Sanctuary as that is where Colby happily resides as one of the top chief ambassadors for pets with special needs.

I’ve admired the passionate work of Cheri and Ward Wells who run the special needs dog rescue for quite some time.  Colby is a very happy and active pup who is so busy keeping things in order and playing that his wheelchair broke one day!  Well, we can’t have that when one’s job is so very important and vital to things running smoothly at the sanctuary.

I’m happy to report that Colby is up and running and full speed and capacity now with his shining new wheels from Eddie’s Wheels and courtesy of the Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

I’ll be sharing two more dogs the Frankie Wheelchair Fund has helped in the near future.  This makes 17 dogs, because of the generous contributions from others, that we have been able to help live a happy, quality life. Thank you!  Thank you!

I want to help more!  To learn more about the fund please visit our website www.nationalwalknrolldogday.com

You can also follow along on Facebook for inspirational dogs in wheels as well as find Lovey Loaves on Facebook too!

What My Paralyzed Dachshund Taught Me about Spiritual Surrender and Letting Go

Posted by Barbara Techel

Frankie book quote 1200The above quote I share from my book, Through Frankie’s Eyes. Each time I think about this, I can still feel emotion rise up in me and I feel this immense gratitude in my heart.

Tomorrow I’m very honored to be taking part in a telesummit as a guest on a panel discussing Spiritual Surrender and Letting Go. As a caretaker to Frankie, letting go and accepting her paralysis wasn’t an easy thing to do at the beginning. I really wanted her to walk on her own again. What came from surrendering and accepting what was, as many of you know, revealed many blessings I could have never predicted.

Each time I struggle now to surrender and let go, I remind myself what I learned from Frankie. We are here to enjoy life and to get back to a place of healing and joy. Frankie was instrumental in my journey for just that in just the way she never felt sorry for herself and adapted, continuing to be the happy little dog she always was, despite having to be in a wheelchair.

I’m excited to talk about this tomorrow during the Radiant Survivor Telesummit. I’ll be on a panel with the world-renowned surgeon Dr. Bernie Siegel.  I keep pinching myself I will be on a panel with him!  I adore him!  One of his earlier audio’s is one that I listened to when I began what I call my spiritual awakening.  This is quite the honor for me to be on this call with him.

I invite you to join us live for this call or if you can’t make the call, do sign up as it will be recorded. The call begins at 2:00pm cst. It is being hosted by author, Erica Tucci who is a stroke survivor.  Her book, Radiant Survivor, which comes out next week shares many stories of others who have learned to let go and surrender during tough challenges.  Frankie and my story is part of the book as my role as a caregiver, which I’m so happy to be a part of.

Hope to “see” you on the call!

Meeting Charlie Brown the Handicapable Dachshund. Be Still My Heart.

Posted by Barbara Techel

charlie 1200If you follow me on Facebook, you likely noticed my profile photo of me holding this Dapper Dachshund.  His name is Charlie Brown and is also known as the Handicapable Doxie.  You can find him on Facebook. I’m sure he’d be thrilled if you gave his page a like.  I had the honor of meeting him while in Asheville, NC last week.

It just so happened that I posted some photos talking about the River Arts District and the Dachshund pottery I had purchased.  Jo, a Facebook friend noticed where I was and tagged Kristin Hyland Dryden who is the mom of Charlie Brown.  Little did I know they live in a neighboring city to Asheville.  She contacted me and asked if she could meet me and bring Charlie Brown, as well as their other Dachshund Gunner.

This would turn out to be the highlight of my trip!  Now don’t get me wrong, I love Asheville and all the culture, restaurants, and site seeing we did. But give me the chance to meet another Dachshund and one in a wheelchair, well, that is a right where my heart wants to be.

We agreed to meet at Starbucks in Biltmore Village (right outside the Biltmore Estate).  John and I arrived early to grab a coffee and tea. It was a warm fall day and the sun felt good as we sat outside waiting for Charlie Brown and his family to arrive.

After a few moments I looked across the parking lot and my heart caught in my throat.  There he was!  His big ears flapping in the wind, rolling happily in his wheels, making his way across the parking lot. I jumped to my feet and made my way toward him.  I immediately bent down and took his little face in my hands. Emotion overcame me. There is nothing like the love of a Dachshund.

After greeting Gunner too, I stood up and gave Kristin a hug and shook her husband Rick’s hand. It was then that Kristin got tears in her eyes and told me how she has wanted to thank me for helping give her hope when Charlie Brown first went down three years ago.  She shared with me that while Charlie Brown was in surgery she researched on the Internet to find out more about Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).

Like me, when Frankie was first diagnosed in 2006, Kristin was scared. She didn’t know what Charlie Brown’s life would be like if the surgery didn’t work. Luckily she found my website and that gave her the hope and peace of mind she needed.  I hugged her close as she shared this with me. This is my joy. Knowing that by sharing my story about Frankie, I was able to help someone else.

After we talked for awhile I asked if I could hold Charlie Brown. The moment Kristin placed him in my arms my heart felt home. This is who I am, I thought. This is what makes me feel alive.  My mom’s comment about the photo I posted on Facebook couldn’t be more true also, “You are never as happy as when you have a doxie in your arms.”

Meeting Charlie Brown filled me with immense joy. I look forward to the day I hold a new little one of my own in my arms. It will be a day when I once again feel complete.

I really didn’t want to say goodbye to Charlie Brown or his family. But I know we will be forever friends now. Our love and devotion of these special needs doxie’s brought us together and I will always carry them in my heart.