An ice bag, a cup of bouillon, lots of love and we're fine

December 25, 2010 • Posted in Beth Finke, blindness, Seeing Eye dogs, Uncategorized by
Beth and her first Seeing Eye dog, Dora.

That's me and my first Seeing Eye dog, Pandora. If you look closely you'll see the leash looped around my wrist.

I fell. Outside. With Harper. Last night. My feet slipped out from under me.

Hello, sidewalk. Meet the back of my head. Thud.

First thought: Am I conscious?

Second thought:Where’s Harper?

*****

In addition to holding a harness, Seeing Eye dog users also attach a leash to our dogs, then loop the other end around our wrists. The leash is necessary for giving our dogs corrections — this snippet from the “Control and Discipline” lecture I heard while training with Harper a few weeks back:

Some dogs, like some humans, will allow themselves to be temporarily distracted by things which seem interesting to them but are not desirable when it comes to walking or getting through traffic. During training we attempt to educate your dog to control these instincts, but it is virtually impossible to eliminate them.

Some instincts are helpful in relation to guide work. Examples:

  • the homing instinct. Harper is very good at retracing his steps and finding known destinations, like the door to our apartment building.
  • the pack instinct. This instills Harper’s desire to please the master, in this case …me!

Unfortunately, most dog instincts are detrimental to good guide work. Trainers at the Seeing Eye drummed it into us that we have to work very, very hard to control our dogs desire to chase, scavenge, sniff, protect, and socialize. Back to the lecture notes:

If the distraction is unusually interesting, it may be necessary to accompany the verbal reprimand with a more effective means of regaining the dog’s attention. In such instances, following the reprimand with a jerk on the leash will draw the dog’s attention away from the distracting influence and bring it back to the work at hand. The strength of the leash correction depends upon the type of distraction, as well as your own strength, and the nature of your individual dog.

I’ve appreciated having that leash at hand in order to correct Harper some since we got home (Harper is very interested in some of the other dogs in our neighborhood!) but the leash did another, far more important, job for the two of us last night.

I’d fallen on a sidewalk that edges Harrison, a very, very busy street. After getting my head together, I felt for the leash. There it was, looped around my wrist. Just the way Seeing Eye trainers taught us. And there was Harper, wagging his tail at the other end.

“Harper, come!” He came right to my side. I lay there a long while, petting Harper, devising a way to get horizontal again.

When I finally stood up, a man called out in a beautiful Jamaican accent from across the street. “Ma’am. You oh kay?”I was near tears, but managed to hold them back long enough to answer. My head hurt, but I was all right. And so was Harper. “We’re only a half-block from home,” I told him. Somehow, having a complete stranger worry about me on Christmas Eve like that gave me faith. I knew we’d make it home.

*****

Thursday, the day before my fall, was my birthday. Friends and family mailed cards, bought me drinks, emailed notes, donated to causes in my name, shipped packages, left phone messages, wrote, sent and sang songs to remember my less-than-convenient birthday. Thank you, thank you, thank you. After all these many, many years, you continue making   me feel it’s worthwhile  picking myself up after a fall.

Sandra On December 25, 2010 at 7:52 pm

I’m sorry you fell, but I’m glad you’re ok! Happy birthday!

Maria On December 26, 2010 at 8:33 am

Do you have a bump on your head? Thank God and all the saints that you weren’t seriously hurt and didn’t lose Harper in the fall you had. When I was reading about it all I could think was, OMG! How frightening that must have been for you! But then there is always the surprising kindness of strangers that helps us through some of those scary and hard times.

bethfinke On December 26, 2010 at 9:58 am

Aside from being a little sore I am absolutely fine after that fall on the ice, thanks for asking. Harper seems fine, too. I wasn’t so sure about myself right after i fell, of course –worried about concussion. But found just lying there, taking my time before getting up, helped a lot.
Something to be said for aging: I was not at *all* embarrassed by the fall, didn’t care if anyone saw me, actually hoped someone would!
Woozy on the way home but I wasn’t kidding, that Jamaican man asking about me meant a lot to me –streets were rather empty, it being Christmas Eve night and all, and I have a feeling he was a cab driver. Cab drivers have terrible reputations in Chicago, but (aside from the very few who refuse to pick us up!) they have always, always been good to me.

Bob On December 26, 2010 at 8:40 am

I’ve often wondered why you had to hold a leash and a harness both. Thanks for the explanation. Glad you survived the fall with Harper in hand.

MaryEllen Schneider On December 26, 2010 at 5:35 pm

Whew, that’s scary. So glad for the happy ending, Beth–and that you had a great birthday!

All the best in the new year.

Chris G On December 27, 2010 at 9:28 am

Glad you were ok, although you probably had a nice lump. This weather has to add plenty of challenges to your training with Harper. Paul fell yesterday on his run too, smacked his face on the sidewalk but was ok with a scratched nose and swollen lip. It is good to know that someone at least gave a shout out, especially on Christmas Eve. Also belated Happy Birthday, sounds like a nice one! (I’m a holiday baby too, it can get hectic).

Jeff flodin On December 27, 2010 at 9:58 am

Happy Birthday, Beth, and thank you for reminding me how strangers care and our dogs are there when our footing gives way and the sidewalk is unforgiving and we just want to get home.

pnelson@spherion-staffing.com On December 27, 2010 at 11:29 am

Beth a belated happy birthday, hope your fall was not due to all the drinks your friends bought you!

Seriously, glad you are alright and you had a wonderful Christmas, Happy New Year!

Penn

bethfinke On December 27, 2010 at 11:56 am

Aha! I *knew* some of my blog readers might assume that fall came after one of my benders. Admittedly I’ve been enjoying a glass of wine now and then over this holiday (and as my mom, Flo, likes to say, “B glass of wine, c glass of wine, d glass of wine…” but irony of ironies, that fall occurred in a rare moment when I was completely sober.
Maybe a drink would have helped? Don’t think so.
Lest you worry about my over-imbibing, I should explain that included in the drinks I received for my birthday was. a gift card for Starbuck’s! Thanks for all your good wishes, I feel very, very fortunate to have survived that fall without major injury.

Ms. Earley On December 27, 2010 at 5:53 pm

Glad you are Okay and Harper was there to help you.
Surprised to see Dora in the picture!
Hope you had a great holiday and Happy New Year Beth!

Audrey Mitchell On December 27, 2010 at 7:34 pm

Beth , I am so glad you are OK. You are so resilient and your reaction to this experience just adds to your not letting anything stop you from doing what you want to do. Happy Birthday and look forward to seeing you in class in January.

Audrey

bethfinke On December 28, 2010 at 9:13 am

I’m looking forward to our memoir-writing class starting again in January, too, Audrey! After that assignment about “The Best Invention of My Lifetime”
http://bethfinke.wordpress.com/2010/11/18/the-best-invention-of-my-lifetime/
I have been reading a book about the Polio vaccine (called “Polio: An American Story”) and am eager to talk with you all about it. AND eager to hear all your new stories, too!

becky On December 27, 2010 at 9:31 pm

Oh my so glad you are okay. Wow. A fall like that really throws us off in so many ways. Sending lots of love and a belated Happy Birthday.

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