MH resident suffers from syndrome that only 129 people in the world have
Published in the April 16-29, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Photo courtesy Shelby Graham
Dustin enjoys playing at Pump It Up in Morgan Hill with his canine companion Ohana. The company has a special needs play night the first Tuesday of every month.
For years, whenever her 13-year-old son Dustin needed to see the dentist, Shelby Graham had to take the teen to the hospital where doctors put him under an anesthetic. And whenever she took him out in public, she had to constantly keep hold of her son as he has no safety awareness and is very hyper. As soon as she’d let go, he’d bolt.
With the help of Canine Companions for Independence and a dog named Ohana, life has gotten a bit easier for Dustin, Graham, her husband Dave and oldest son Hunter, 15, a Live Oak High School sophomore. Now, with Ohana at his side, she can take Dustin to the dentist and get him to sit in a chair, even if only for a short time.
“One baby step at a time,” Graham said. She also brought Ohana to the salon to get his haircut, an activity which used to be a chore as the energetic child refused to sit still. “To get through a whole haircut, that’s huge,” Graham said.
Dustin suffers from Dubowitz Syndrome, autism, ADHD and hyperactivity. Dubowitz is a rare genetic disorder characterized by growth retardation and many other debilitating symptoms. Only 129 people worldwide suffer from the rare disease.
Photo courtesy Shelby Graham
Dustin and Ohana.
“He’s a very active little boy,” Graham said, as Dustin raced energetically through their west Morgan Hill home. “It’s very difficult to take him out in public.”
But with Ohana — who has been with the Graham’s for two months — those episodes are greatly reduced, she said. He now has a friend, a companion, someone who helps take care of him and someone he takes care of.
Although he has difficulty speaking, Dustin can read and write, though not at a 13-year-old level. The boy understands what’s going on around him and is responsible for Ohana’s grooming and feeding. She in return, helps keep Dustin calm and at ease in, what for him, are complicated surroundings.
In everything they must do to care for Dustin, they are seeing improvements with Ohana’s help.
“She’s keeping him safe,” Graham said. “She’s a friend.”
Photo courtesy Shelby Graham
Dustin and Ohana.
But the road to get Ohana, three-quarter lab, one-quarter retriever, wasn’t easy or quick. They applied to CCI for a dog in late 2011, and after getting approved, it took some time to find the right dog. Founded in 1975, the nonprofit uses advanced technology to meticulously select pairs of dogs for breeding.
At eight weeks, volunteers take the dog home and train and socialize it for more than a year, bringing the dog everywhere a person would have to go in daily life until it is returned to CCI’s national headquarters in Santa Rosa. There it undergoes another six months of intensive training.
“After she left us, she knew about 30 commands,” said Ann Weitz, a San Jose resident who works in Morgan Hill and trained Ohana.
Finally, Dustin and his mom lived at the headquarters with 10 other families for an intensive two-week, seven-hours-a-day “Team Training” course. When they left, Ohana knew more than 40 commands, including pushing a button that opens electronic doors if needed.
Photo courtesy by Ann Weitz
Dustin and Ohana in their front yard.
“I know more about that dog than I do about myself,” Graham joked.
And Dustin is learning as well. Ohana sleeps in his room and she snuggles with him, keeping him at ease.
“It’s definitely helped with calming Dustin,” Graham said. “He gets up in the middle of the night, and she’s with him.”
Graham said the family is no longer afraid when they take Dustin out into public. “It’s safer for him and everybody else.”
The influence that Ohana has had in just a short time is evident in everything the dog and Dustin do.
“He’s always been happy, but he seems even more proud of himself now,” Graham said. “He has a friend, a companion.”
