When I first matched with my beautiful service dog, Jojo, I started to realize just how much of an impact she was going to have on my daily life as we learned to navigate the challenges of my disability and chronic illnesses together. What I don't think I was quite aware of a few years ago when we graduated together was just how much she would teach me during our time together. Every single say that we spend together, I feel like there is always a lesson I am learning – whether it's about grace, patience, hope, or literally just moving at the healthiest pace for us.
Trust
One of the first lessons my service dog taught me was trust. There must be a lot of trust when it comes to the support a service dog can provide. Learning to rely on a dog instead of another human to help me grow and relearn independence didn't happen overnight. Trust truly came during each successful outing, every active task, and all the challenges we worked through together. Trust is never perfect. I personally believe that a lot of our trust has been built in the most difficult moments like hospital admissions and procedures going wrong. I trust her to provide comfort during so much uncertainty. I trust her to remain calm when everything around is nothing short of chaos. I have truly trusted Jojo with the most stressful hospital admissions from the beginning because I remember the eyes she gave me on day one of working together, and she gives me those exact eyes when I'm in the hospital. All she wants is to lie and sleep right beside me and to comfort me during the hardest times.
Patience
This is a big one. I have struggled with patience throughout my life. It has never come naturally to me, and it has been something that I have had to consciously work on throughout my life. A big part of it was being autistic and struggling with the way I process the world, handling changes, and even just experiencing human emotions. Growing up, I often felt like I needed to move faster, understand things quicker, or fit into the expectations of others and it didn't usually match up with the way my brain worked. I didn't always have the patience and understanding from others that I needed, and that made learning to be patient with myself harder.
Jojo came into my life and showed me what patience truly meant. She has never rushed me, never judged me for needing extra time, and has never treated me differently for the things that I struggle with. She has taught me that patience is not expecting things to be easy or to be perfect overnight. Patience is about giving ourselves grace, allowing room for growth, and understanding that progress looks different for everyone.
Grace
Some days don't go according to plan, and honestly, most days with chronic illness don't even come close to the plan. Most days, my pain is all-consuming, my symptoms are inconsistent, and my body tends to fail me over and over again. There are simply days when I must prioritize rest and accept that what I hoped to accomplish is going to have to wait.
My service dog has taught me to meet those days with grace. She never looks at me differently on my hard days. She doesn't get frustrated when our plans change. She honestly just adjusts alongside me. She really has taught me to give myself grace and to listen to what my body needs. She has reminded me that I deserve the same kindness and grace that I give everyone else because I would never judge a friend for having a difficult day, needing rest, or having to change plans to take care of themselves.
Moving at a Healthy Pace
One of the most meaningful lessons my service dog has taught me sit hat I don't have to be on-the-go all day, every day. I used to always feel like I was constantly trying to catch up. I always felt behind and like there was always something I was forgetting. I never felt successful because I always thought I was behind or not doing enough. Even before Jojo, my chronic conditions taught me that my pace looks different from most able-bodied people. I can't keep up anymore because I'm in pain 24/7, I struggle with chronic fatigue, I deal with memory loss & seizures, all on top of being paralyzed and having to go to so many appointments every week.
I struggled to find acceptance within needing to go at a slower pace, but Jojo has become one of the best reminders that there is no need to rush. She doesn't care if we need to take more breaks or need to adjust our plans. She has taught me that moving at a healthy pace does not mean I am failing. In fact, rest is one of the most productive things I can do for myself.
As I look back on the last few years I have spent with my sweet girl, Jojo, I realize that she has helped me live independently, which was always the goal. But she has also helped me live more intentionally, too. I have always believed in the love and companionship of a dog, but my service dog, Jojo, has truly exceeded all expectations. I knew she could help me navigate the challenges of my disability, but I didn't even think of all the things she would teach me along the way.
About the author
Aspen Baxter is passionate about promoting accessibility, inclusivity, and mental health awareness. Living as a paraplegic with Autism, Aspen has firsthand experience navigating the challenges of multiple disabilities. Following a medication injury in 2021 that resulted in her paralysis, Aspen has become an advocate for accessibility and inclusivity in all aspects of life.
Aspen's ride is a Quickie Nitrum with an Empulse R90.
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