Montreal 2016: Day 1 - Via Train Nightmare

On Monday morning we left on the via train to go to Montreal. I come to Shriners Hospital once a year for bone treatments and a follow-up with all of my specialists. I have been coming here since I was 2 years old and now I am almost 21. In the past 18 years they have helped me tremendously and I would not be where I am today without their help.

We started taking the train to Montreal (as opposed to driving or flying) a few years ago. Troy came with us on the Via Train last year and he did excellent. This time was a completely different story.

We were in the back of the last car on a very old train. The ride was SO bumpy and loud that even the employee selling refreshments fell on top of my mom during one of the bumps. Troy was absolutely terrified every time the train would switch tracks (I don't blame him, I was scared too... we all were!). The conductor did slow down slightly to help alleviate the bumps but he was still very shaken up since at that point it had already been 2 hours into the trip. We had another 4 hours to go and I just couldn't stand seeing him in that much distress. He was shaking, panting, jumping, and just unable to settle. I called our vet to see if he had any suggestions. Fortunately, I have my own prescription for 0.5 mg. of lorazepam. After speaking with the vet, I decided that I had to give him some of the medication. About an hour after giving him the pill, he settled down and the trip was much more enjoyable.

When we finally got to Montreal he was SO happy to get off the train that he dragged us outside (partially because he had to pee, and partially because he was just glad that he was no longer in the torture chamber). He did well afterwards at the hotel, until bed time. He started to pant and shake again. He has a fear or slippery/shiny hardwood and unfortunately the hotel floors were recently renovated so they were very shiny. He wouldn't jump up into the bed so he had to lay on the floor. I put a few blankets down for him but he still wasn't too thrilled. Finally, after a chewy dental treat and some cuddles, he settled in for the night and seemed to be okay. Now he is in much better spirits and I am hoping that the train ride home tomorrow goes much more smoothly (literally and figuratively)!

We have spoken with a very nice Via train employee here in Montreal and our seats are in car 5 out of 7 for the way home which should make a difference. It's also a newer train. I'm hoping he isn't too scared of trains from now on as I take it often to get to Toronto. We'll have to wait and see and I'll definitely update you all on Thursday when I get home!

P.S. Via WILL be receiving a complaint about the trip to Montreal. Don't worry! I am sticking up for my boy :)

A very tired boy after yesterday's nightmare. We love the new hospital though!

What we've been up to and where you can see us next!

Hey everyone!

I know it's been forever since I updated the blog and I wish I could say you haven't really missed anything. Troy and I have actually been REALLY busy these last few months.

For starters, on Feb. 4th, we went to court regarding the taxi driver who refused our Transhelp ride (paratransit service run by the city) and drove away without arranging another ride for us (which is in violation of the city by-law regarding taxi drivers with animal allergies). Long story short - The taxi driver never showed up, I made my statement, and we go back on Sept. 15th (hopefully the driver shows up this time).

For more details on the full story, check our this video that was on CBC last year when it happened: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/kelsey-le-coure-denied-taxi-ride-because-of-service-dog-1.3056640

We have also been very busy with school this year. I am currently finishing my first year in Marketing at Sheridan College. When I got Troy, I was studying in the Bachelor of Child and Youth Care program at Humber College. Shortly after starting my 4th semester in the 4 year program, I realized that it wasn't for me. We then applied for the Finance program at Sheridan. I was accepted and started that last September.

I also opened an Etsy shop selling planner stickers and clips around the same time that I started school this year. I feel in love with all of my marketing classes and apply a lot of that knowledge in my Etsy shop - Elegant and Organized. I decided that Finance also wasn't my forte, and transferred into the marketing program (which is really easy since all first year business students take the same courses). I truly feel that this is the right fit for me and I'm so excited to learn more about marketing and hopefully work full-time as a social media manager one day!
Troy loves it at Sheridan College as well. We go to the Mississauga campus so we spend a lot of time at Square One after class to grab lunch and walk around the mall since going on walks outside is difficult in the winter!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - Last October Troy, my mom, and I moved into a new condo! At first it was a lot of work and it's still very frustrating as it is a brand new building and there are a lot of deficiencies, but we love it here! It's closer to my boyfriend's house than the apartment was that we were renting while waiting for this to be built (we sold our house a year before the condo was ready to move in to). The only downside is that I can no longer walk to class. The place we lived before this new condo was right across the street from my campus! Now we take the bus every morning - which isn't too bad as it is a door-to-door service and pretty reliable :)

Last but definitely not least, If you want to come hang out with Troy and I, we will be at the Dog Guides Open House in Oakville this Saturday (March 5th) from approx. 1-2PM! You can come say hi to Troy and get lots of puppy kisses, and a tour of where Troy and I first met. I can't wait to see all of you there!

Here are some pictures that you may or may not have already seen. They're all pretty recent:

His auntie was in a cheer competition - we didn't end up making him wear this, but it sure was cute!)

Waiting for the bus...

Yay! A snow day! :D

Mom, I'm almost 3. I can drive now, right?

Super cold day at Sheridan. Waiting for our ride home

Taken today - loving this snow fall!

One Year Ago Today...

One year ago today I sat patiently (okay, maybe not so patiently. I was nervous, excited, and anxious) to meet my new best friend. I didn't know anything about the dog that the trainer would be bringing into my room.

What felt like an hour, was really only a few minutes. Then the knock on the door came. I opened the door and there he was. She said "This is Troy. I'll come back in a few minutes to let you know when to come back to the classroom". Troy looked a little nervous too and I wasn't exactly sure what I was supposed to do. I took the leash from the trainer's hand and went over to the bed. I sat down and just stared at him.

Is this really my dog? It was all so crazy and hard to believe. 30 seconds ago I was alone in my room and now I have this adorable creature attached to my wheelchair. I knew this day would come, but I guess it was more of an idea until it became my reality.

The first thing I did when the trainer left was text my boyfriend and my mom. I said "It's a boy and his name is Troy!". They were just as excited as I was and couldn't wait to find out everything about Troy.

I then decided that I needed to take a picture of our first moments together. So, I sat on the floor with Troy and took this picture. The quality isn't great but to this day, it's still one of my favourite photos of him. He looks happy but nervous, excited but scared... Troy and I had very similar emotions that day. Here is the picture I first took of him:

A few weeks later, we graduated from the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides. Since then, my life has completely changed. If you're interested in hearing what we did each day at training, please feel free to look back on my blog to the posts from December 2014.

Very shortly after getting home from training, my brother committed suicide on Christmas Eve. This was a very difficult time for my mom and I but having Troy with us made the world of difference.

In the spring, I decided that the program I was studying (Bachelor of Child and Youth Care) wasn't for me. I dropped out at the end of my second year. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do afterward but having Troy by my side made me confident that it would all work out.

In May, my boyfriend's sister (Elise) had to have emergency brain surgery. This was very unexpected and stressful for our family. Troy made a world of difference during this time as well. Elise and Troy are very close and staying at their house without her there was very confusing for Troy. He was worried about everyone. Then one day we took him to visit her in the hospital. We also brought our friends Shelby and Frances along. Here is a picture of Frances with Elise a few days before her surgery:

When Elise came home, 5 days after her brain surgery, Troy didn't leave her side. He cuddled with her on the elevated pillow while she napped. He helped us all take care of her :)

A few months later, we decided to go to the cottage in Muskoka with Zak's family. We were there for 3 nights and Troy had so much fun while we were there. He was off-leash most of the time and there were a few dogs to play with as well. We discovered that he is terrified of the lake and was slightly concerned when I was swimming/kayaking because he wanted to be by my side but refused to get wet. He eventually realized that sun tanning on the grass wasn't so bad and realized that I was fine. After that, he just hung around the shore with his daddy while I swam with Elise. He can't wait to go back next year for an entire week! 

Here are a few cute pictures of Troy at the cottage:

In September, Zak and I both started new programs at Sheridan College. I am currently in the finance program but am planning on switching to the 3 year Marketing with co-op. Troy is loving going to school with mommy and daddy every day! He says it's much more fun than just being with his mom in class.

My mom and I also recently moved into a brand new condo. Troy loves our new place and he has met a few doggy friends that he can play with as well! He plays with his toys in the hallway as it is carpeted and fairly secluded. It is also closer to Zak's house so we have been going over there more often. Troy loves his daddy's house because there is a big backyard and another dog to play with!

Here are a few pictures of our new condo:

We have been very busy this year and Troy has done an amazing job keeping up with the craziness! I have seen a huge change with our bond over the last few months. We bonded really quickly even while at the school, but it has strengthened even more since then. I am so grateful to everything his foster family did with him in the early years. I am also very grateful for everything that the Lions Foundation has done for us both. We participated in the Oakville Walk for Dog Guides last spring and Team Troy will be doing it again next year for sure!

Troy has made such a difference in my life. Obviously he helps me pick up things that I drop, open doors, and bark for help if I need it, but it goes far beyond those skills. I have met some incredible friends through Dog Guides that I would not know otherwise. My confidence has increased so much since coming home with Troy. Although I have brittle bones (Osteogenesis Imperfecta) and I have Troy to help me with my physical disability, I have also developed an anxiety disorder in the past 6 months. Some days it is nearly impossible for me to get out of bed but having Troy makes it a little less difficult for me because I know that no matter what happens, I have my sidekick with me and he can keep me safe. I truly don't know what I would do without him in my life.

Here are a few more pictures of some of the things we've been up to over the last year:

Happy Canada Day!

Troy is on the left, Frances is on the right. They love each other <3

Wearing his cowboy hat for Team Troy in the Oakville walk for Dog Guides!

Taken at the Square One meetup in March

We met the Property Brothers at Square One!

Just being silly and cute

Family photo on Zak and I's 3rd anniversary :)

He loves snuggles!

Afternoon Tea at The Old Mill :)

Nap Time with Auntie Elise :)

Summer 2015: What have we been up to?

Hey guys!

It's been a while since I've posted on the blog - sorry about that.

A few months ago my boyfriend's sister (Elise) had to have emergency brain surgery. Then once all of that settled down, I started getting dizzy again. It's just been one thing after another. Thank god for Troy though! I don't know what any of us would do without him. He provided Elise and her family with a lot of comfort during her recovery.

For the last few weeks I haven't been able to really get out of the house. I have been struggling with un-diagnosed vertigo for the past 3 years on and off. This month has been one of the worst yet. I can't go more than 1-2 hours without feeling lightheaded or dizzy. I am waiting for some test results and an MRI date, then hopefully I will get some answers.

Despite all of these setbacks, Troy and I have been having a great summer. We had our first trip to the vet just over a month ago and the doctor said he's perfectly healthy. Yay!

We also went to Wood Lake (Muskoka) with my boyfriend and his family a few weeks ago. I have never seen Troy have so much fun. He got to run around off leash the entire three days and there were other big dogs for him to play with. While I was swimming in the lake, he would watch me but he wouldn't dare come close to the water. I thought he might like the lake, despite his fear of baths, but I was wrong.

We don't have too many plans for August as  I need to figure out what is causing my dizziness before I go back to school in September. My birthday is on August 24th though so I'm sure we will do something fun that day.

For much more frequent updates, follow us on facebook at: www.facebook.com/ssdandthecity 

As always, here are some pictures from our adventures these past few months :)

He's much happier to just run around and lay on the grass with daddy while I'm in the lake :)

This was when we first got to the cottage - he's still unsure about the water.

Troy's on the left (in the leafs jersey) - cuddling with his favourite girl, Frances

Walking around our neighbourhood... decided to stop at Square One to pose in front of the fountain

Montreal Day 2: Shriners hospital, waiting around, back to Toronto

I have been home for a few days now but have not posted an update about our second day in Montreal.

We woke up at 5:30 AM on Wednesday and were at the hospital around 7:00. I was the only person receiving treatment that day so everything went fairly quickly, which is great. We had a bit of trouble getting my IV in but that always happens because I have bad veins. After the 4th try, it worked and I started my infusion. My zoledronate treatment went well but we have decided not to schedule another one at this time. We are going to wait and see if the pain comes back and if it does, we will schedule it then. The longer I can manage between treatments the better because my bone density is within the normal range (my bones are still very fragile but the thickness [density] is in the normal range. It's still all OI bone though) and the treatment is now just for bone pain. Long term side effects are unknown so the less I receive in my life, the better off I'll be.

The doctor could not see a femur fracture on the xrays but as always, that doesn't mean there isn't one. It just means that it's not visible. So the pain I've been having since December is still a mystery. If the zoledronate helps then it was probably just my body telling me that I needed more zole. We'll see. Until then, Advil and Tylenol around the clock continues.

The surgery for my knee is being scheduled and it does not sound like it will be as big of a procedure as I thought. He gave me the option of being awake throughout the entire surgery! It is day surgery but if I decide to go to Shriner's for it, I'll have to stay a few nights as travelling afterwards will be difficult. I am considering getting it done in Toronto though as it sounds simple, in which case my doctor at home could probably handle it and not cause too many problems. That's something I'll need to think about in the coming weeks. At least they agreed that the screw can come out now which will hopefully cause less pain in the future.

We were finished at the hospital around 1:00 but our train didn't leave Montreal until 5:00. We tried to get on an earlier train but it would have only got us home an hour earlier and cost 250 dollars for my mom and I. So, we waited for 4 hours at the station.

Troy really had to pee when we got to union because our train was delayed almost 30 minutes - and it was an express that didn't stop at all between dorval (Quebec) and Oshawa. 

We finally got home at midnight and have been taking it easy since. We tried to come to the flag raising ceremony on Friday at city hall in Toronto but the go trains were all cancelled/delayed so we wouldn't have been  able to make it there on time. I hope everyone had a great day and we will see you at the Toronto West (High Park) Walk for Dog Guides on the 29th!

Montreal Day 1: Via Rail and Poutine!

Today was full of new adventures for Troy...

This morning we caught the 7 AM go train to Union and then boarded the Via train at 9 AM. Troy has been on the go train many times before but we have never been on the Via train together. There was a slight issue with boarding (I took my walker instead of my wheelchair just because I have my mom with me and accessible taxis in Montreal are very difficult to book compared to regular cabs. I also knew there wouldn't be too much walking involved as most of the trip is spent sitting around waiting. It will also be nice to walk in front of all of my doctors for the first time in over 7 years!). Because I had my walker, Via forgot to bring the lift to the platform so I had to climb the stairs very carefully. This was not a great start to our trip but we managed.

We were pleasantly surprised with the type of economy seats we had. They gave us a quad section with 4 seats to ourselves to accommodate the two of us and Troy. I was expecting just two normal seats so we had a lot of extra room which made the train ride a little more pleasant. 

My mom tried to take Troy outside for a quick bathroom break while we were stopped in Kingston. She was told that they would need to be escorted by the service manager and that she was busy at the moment. So needless to say, Troy didn't end up going outside for the entire trip. I was almost hoping he would go in the train after that just to prove a point - but he didn't. Good boy Troy!

Troy is having a little bit of a tough time getting used to being in a hotel. He is sleeping beside me now but at first he was restless and interested in all of the sounds from the other rooms and outside (Montreal is much noisier than Toronto!). I'm not really sure why because we live in an apartment but our building is fairly quiet and I guess he just misses our bed as much as I do.

Our evening has been spent relaxing as much as possible and eating poutine from Angela's - they have the best chicken poutine in the city! 

Tomorrow is going to be a very long day. We have to get up at 6:00, be at the hospital by 7:15 and then wait around for the nurses to start my treatment, get X-rays and two bone density tests, see my surgeon and a few other doctors, see PT and OT, and then wait around at the train station until our train departs at 5:00. We will be home around midnight if all goes according to plan. (Last year our train broke down in Kingston and we were stuck there until the the next train came which delayed us about 5 hours and we got home just before 2AM). 

I'll update either on the train tomorrow night or on Thursday to let you all know how our appointments and treatment went! Have a goodnight everyone. Troy and I are off to get some sleep! :)

Do we have to get up now? It's too early for me mom...

That croissantwich looks good...

There's plenty of room when we have 4 seats!

Almost there!

In the cab going to the hotel... Man I'm exhausted!

Angela's chicken poutine... Mmm

Goodnight everyone! I'm pooped :)

Provincial Advocate's Office, Hot Docs, Double Dates, and Final Exams!

This weekend was really busy and full of exciting new things for Troy!

On Saturday we went to a meeting at the Provincial Advocate's office for Children and Youth. We are part of an advocacy group for youth with disabilities called "I Have Something To Say". We got on the Go Train at 9:30 in the morning (I don't think he was a fan of going out so early on a Saturday... But that's besides the point). When we got to the office, Troy was very excited to see his best friend Rush, and his new friend Basil (Rush is a service dog, like Troy, and Basil is an Autism Assistance dog - they are both from Lions). He said a quick hello to his friends and then settled down amazingly. He laid beside me for the 3 hour meeting with just a few groans of boredom throughout. 

After the meeting, Zak and I went on a double date with our friends / Rush's handler, Tim, and his wife Natalie. It was great to catch up with them as it's been a few weeks since we've had time to hang out. We walked to the TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre to watch a film from Hot Docs. We were lucky enough to get last minute tickets to the screening of Thought Crimes. I'm not a movie critic whatsoever but I highly recommend this documentary if you into crime and psychology. Although, keep in mind that it contains some graphic & mature content. It's definitely not for the whole family to enjoy! 

After our Hot Docs screening, we went across the street for dinner at Hush. I completely forgot that we'd be out past Troy's "dinner time" so he was hungry while the rest of us were enjoying our meals. He usually eats at 5:00 and that is the time that we arrived at the restaurant. He was very well behaved despite being mad that mommy forgot to bring his dinner though! 

We took the train back home around 6:30 and we were home (my boyfriends house) shortly after 7:30. Troy got his dinner and played with Benji (my boyfriends bichon-poodle) before getting a good night's rest. 

Now we are waiting to write our first exam together. Why they schedule an exam on a Sunday, I'll never know... 

I'm just praying he doesn't disrupt anyone with his moans of boredom. I'm sure it'll be fine though...He's cute and that's all that matters! ;) 

Here's an adorable picture of Troy laying on Rush and Natalie's feet at the theatre!