Meet Benjamin....
Because of you...
Benjamin is getting exactly
what he prayed for....
A fully trained Assistance Dog
named Blondie!
Benjamin is getting exactly
what he prayed for....
A fully trained Assistance Dog
named Blondie!
A very special dog with
a very special future!
Meet Emily...she has
been training Blondie....
a very special future!
Meet Emily...she has
been training Blondie....
With the help of Megan Cloudman and Candi Pearce (Gemini
Golden Retrievers) we have acquired Blondie. She has a
Championship pedigree, has passed all her health certifications and
is now ready to continue her training to be a certified Assistance
Dog. During the next six months Blondie will be learning how to help
Benjamin become more independent, helping him retrieve items from
the floor, turn the lights on and off, open and shut doors and offer
physical stability so Benjamin can get up and walk easier. Blondie
can accompany Benjamin everywhere he goes...making him the
"cool kid" with the beautiful special Golden Retriever!
Golden Retrievers) we have acquired Blondie. She has a
Championship pedigree, has passed all her health certifications and
is now ready to continue her training to be a certified Assistance
Dog. During the next six months Blondie will be learning how to help
Benjamin become more independent, helping him retrieve items from
the floor, turn the lights on and off, open and shut doors and offer
physical stability so Benjamin can get up and walk easier. Blondie
can accompany Benjamin everywhere he goes...making him the
"cool kid" with the beautiful special Golden Retriever!
| Donations are needed to train Blondie and other Assistance Dogs. 100% of your donation benefits the dogs and clients who are patiently waiting. |
Hello Everyone,
My name is Debbie Kenyon.
Benjamin, Kristen and I met Joette
Tindell on April 18, 2012, with,
"Ranger" her AWESOME Golden
Retriever assistance dog, while
stopping by at the McDonalds for a
bite to eat. Benjamin, my 10 y/o
son, who just LOVES dogs and
Kristen, my 12 y/o daughter who
wants to be a Veterinarian when
she grows up, were both
immediately attracted to Ranger at
the counter. Kristen went up to pet
Ranger and Benjamin announced,
"He’s working, don't pet him".
Joette could see the disappointment
in Kristen's face and allowed her to
pet Ranger. Well, when Benjamin..
...story continued on bottom of page.
My name is Debbie Kenyon.
Benjamin, Kristen and I met Joette
Tindell on April 18, 2012, with,
"Ranger" her AWESOME Golden
Retriever assistance dog, while
stopping by at the McDonalds for a
bite to eat. Benjamin, my 10 y/o
son, who just LOVES dogs and
Kristen, my 12 y/o daughter who
wants to be a Veterinarian when
she grows up, were both
immediately attracted to Ranger at
the counter. Kristen went up to pet
Ranger and Benjamin announced,
"He’s working, don't pet him".
Joette could see the disappointment
in Kristen's face and allowed her to
pet Ranger. Well, when Benjamin..
...story continued on bottom of page.
Benjamin's story continued...
saw this, he slowly got up sideways as he used the back of the chair for support and with his knees contracted
at 30 degrees and hard infields starting in both ankles, stomped quietly over to pet Ranger. Benjamin looked
up at Joette and said, I would like a work dog too, my mom is trying to find me one. With that statement, Joette
and I talked for hours about Ranger and how he has helped her with her disabilities. I then began Benjamin's
story of how life has slowly, blow by blow attempted to steal the joy from his soul with disease after disease.
When Benjamin just turned 5 years old , on January 11, 2007, we were told that Benjamin would begin his
battle with Juvenile onset insulin dependent diabetes and lifelong finger pokes with insulin injections that were
to become a daily ritual in his little life. That day will be forever burned into my mind as I attempted to explain
how." needles are now a part of everyday life.....forever". God gave us one year to adjust to Benjamin's new
disease as it slowly became a part of our lives, when on December 18, 2008, a Varcilla booster injection, "for
school" was given to Benjamin and thirty days later, another disease, Hashmotois thyroiditis, slowly destroyed
Benjamin's thyroid and was making his body its' home. This disease didn't seem so bad because it only took
a, "pill every day" to care for it. Little did I know that this thyroid disease can cause Benjamin's muscles
(myositis) to set in and I started noticing Benjamin having trouble running and complaining that his hands and
legs got tired after school? Physical therapy was given, thinking that they could, "train" Benjamin's muscles to
tolerate exercise with frequent rest periods when he noticed fatigue. Benjamin not only "failed" physical
therapy but it was concluded that the therapists and doctors had no answers of how to stop the muscle fatigue
and slow impairment that had no name. Life for our family went on as the seasons change, when while at
school, on March 2011, Benjamin complained that his left ankle hurt and looked swollen. The ER stated,
"sprained ankle" and this began the onset of an attack from an undiagnosed strep throat that evolved onto
Rheumatic fever with reactive arthritis, dermatomyosis and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis....as diagnosed by
Shands Hospital of Florida.
Benjamin's rare aggressive form of arthritis (RA factor at diagnosis 868), on September 2011, took his ability
to ambulate distances away as he watched a big truck pull up to our door and unload a, "kids sized"
wheelchair. The last time Benjamin ran and played freely on a playground was January 2011. I watched my
son slowly lower himself down into that little wheelchair as he let out a big sigh trying to look like a, "strong little
man" as he wiped a tear away from his cheek. As I held out both of my hands to help him get out of the chair,
I quietly whispered let's do this tomorrow and got him ready for bed.
Benjamin went to school in his "new" wheelchair that next morning as his big sister Kristen pushed him past
the gates into the multilevel school that they both attended.
(school rules, no parents past the gates...no exceptions...) At first, Benjamin said that the wheelchair was,
"cool, cuz all of the girls want to push me". This slowly got, "old" and Benjamin became a, "bother" to the
other students as children would argue over who's turn is was to push Benjamin. (A mental list was made of
who would push him SAFELY around and not bang him into things all the time). Some of the teachers
thought that kids CANNOT get arthritis...or if they did, it definitely was not as severe as the adult form and
would tell Benjamin to, "get up and open the door" as one of the teachers pushed him to the office to go home
for a doctor’s appointment.
Over the course of months, Benjamin saw several, "service dogs" and I could see his little mind start to,
"wonder" what life would be like IF he could have one for his own. This brings us to the end of today.
I received a phone call about 11pm on April 18, 2012 from Joette stating that "Benjamin is getting a Golden
and should be ready in about 6 months"!!!I was stunned...I had Joette repeat what she said and asked her,
"how". Joette explained that Pawsitive Action Foundation, Inc. and Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. are working
as community partners to provide Benjamin with a fully trained, healthy, two year old female Golden. This
brings me to why I am writing to you this letter. How can a mother ever thank someone for giving something
so special, a Golden Retriever, which will be Benjamin's BUDDY for the lifetime that belongs to this dog...a
lifetime that is dedicated to smiles, happiness, safety, self-confidence and life changing!!
Benjamin, every night, looks for the first star and when he finds it, makes a wish that his legs will get strong
again...to run and play ball again…as he follows the wish with, "mom can I have a dog.....
Now, Benjamin knows that one day his wish of getting strong WILL happen, because GOD has already given
him his other wish...his new dog...
May God continue to bless you in everything you do!!
Debbie Kenyon
Benjamin's Mom
saw this, he slowly got up sideways as he used the back of the chair for support and with his knees contracted
at 30 degrees and hard infields starting in both ankles, stomped quietly over to pet Ranger. Benjamin looked
up at Joette and said, I would like a work dog too, my mom is trying to find me one. With that statement, Joette
and I talked for hours about Ranger and how he has helped her with her disabilities. I then began Benjamin's
story of how life has slowly, blow by blow attempted to steal the joy from his soul with disease after disease.
When Benjamin just turned 5 years old , on January 11, 2007, we were told that Benjamin would begin his
battle with Juvenile onset insulin dependent diabetes and lifelong finger pokes with insulin injections that were
to become a daily ritual in his little life. That day will be forever burned into my mind as I attempted to explain
how." needles are now a part of everyday life.....forever". God gave us one year to adjust to Benjamin's new
disease as it slowly became a part of our lives, when on December 18, 2008, a Varcilla booster injection, "for
school" was given to Benjamin and thirty days later, another disease, Hashmotois thyroiditis, slowly destroyed
Benjamin's thyroid and was making his body its' home. This disease didn't seem so bad because it only took
a, "pill every day" to care for it. Little did I know that this thyroid disease can cause Benjamin's muscles
(myositis) to set in and I started noticing Benjamin having trouble running and complaining that his hands and
legs got tired after school? Physical therapy was given, thinking that they could, "train" Benjamin's muscles to
tolerate exercise with frequent rest periods when he noticed fatigue. Benjamin not only "failed" physical
therapy but it was concluded that the therapists and doctors had no answers of how to stop the muscle fatigue
and slow impairment that had no name. Life for our family went on as the seasons change, when while at
school, on March 2011, Benjamin complained that his left ankle hurt and looked swollen. The ER stated,
"sprained ankle" and this began the onset of an attack from an undiagnosed strep throat that evolved onto
Rheumatic fever with reactive arthritis, dermatomyosis and Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis....as diagnosed by
Shands Hospital of Florida.
Benjamin's rare aggressive form of arthritis (RA factor at diagnosis 868), on September 2011, took his ability
to ambulate distances away as he watched a big truck pull up to our door and unload a, "kids sized"
wheelchair. The last time Benjamin ran and played freely on a playground was January 2011. I watched my
son slowly lower himself down into that little wheelchair as he let out a big sigh trying to look like a, "strong little
man" as he wiped a tear away from his cheek. As I held out both of my hands to help him get out of the chair,
I quietly whispered let's do this tomorrow and got him ready for bed.
Benjamin went to school in his "new" wheelchair that next morning as his big sister Kristen pushed him past
the gates into the multilevel school that they both attended.
(school rules, no parents past the gates...no exceptions...) At first, Benjamin said that the wheelchair was,
"cool, cuz all of the girls want to push me". This slowly got, "old" and Benjamin became a, "bother" to the
other students as children would argue over who's turn is was to push Benjamin. (A mental list was made of
who would push him SAFELY around and not bang him into things all the time). Some of the teachers
thought that kids CANNOT get arthritis...or if they did, it definitely was not as severe as the adult form and
would tell Benjamin to, "get up and open the door" as one of the teachers pushed him to the office to go home
for a doctor’s appointment.
Over the course of months, Benjamin saw several, "service dogs" and I could see his little mind start to,
"wonder" what life would be like IF he could have one for his own. This brings us to the end of today.
I received a phone call about 11pm on April 18, 2012 from Joette stating that "Benjamin is getting a Golden
and should be ready in about 6 months"!!!I was stunned...I had Joette repeat what she said and asked her,
"how". Joette explained that Pawsitive Action Foundation, Inc. and Genesis Assistance Dogs, Inc. are working
as community partners to provide Benjamin with a fully trained, healthy, two year old female Golden. This
brings me to why I am writing to you this letter. How can a mother ever thank someone for giving something
so special, a Golden Retriever, which will be Benjamin's BUDDY for the lifetime that belongs to this dog...a
lifetime that is dedicated to smiles, happiness, safety, self-confidence and life changing!!
Benjamin, every night, looks for the first star and when he finds it, makes a wish that his legs will get strong
again...to run and play ball again…as he follows the wish with, "mom can I have a dog.....
Now, Benjamin knows that one day his wish of getting strong WILL happen, because GOD has already given
him his other wish...his new dog...
May God continue to bless you in everything you do!!
Debbie Kenyon
Benjamin's Mom
Ranger and Ben
Pawsitive Action Foundation Inc. and Genesis Assistance Dog, Inc.
Please donate to help Benjamin, Blondie and many other dreams come true!
Please donate to help Benjamin, Blondie and many other dreams come true!
Pawsitive Action is a registered 501 c3 non profit organization. Through our
community partnership with Genesis Assistance Dogs, we are providing trained
dogs to persons with disabilities, making their lives happier and healthier. Please
send your donation to Pawsitive Action Foundation 5701 Leon Tyson Rd. Saint
Cloud, FL 34771 or use PAY PAL. We are committed to helping people like Ben
meet dogs like Blondie.
$15,000.00 covers the cost of producing a highly trained Assistance Dog . We
welcome any level of donation. No amount is too small. We will send you frequent
updates about the people and dogs you are helping. Follow them on our facebook
page too!
community partnership with Genesis Assistance Dogs, we are providing trained
dogs to persons with disabilities, making their lives happier and healthier. Please
send your donation to Pawsitive Action Foundation 5701 Leon Tyson Rd. Saint
Cloud, FL 34771 or use PAY PAL. We are committed to helping people like Ben
meet dogs like Blondie.
$15,000.00 covers the cost of producing a highly trained Assistance Dog . We
welcome any level of donation. No amount is too small. We will send you frequent
updates about the people and dogs you are helping. Follow them on our facebook
page too!
Please Make a Donation
Harmony High School Vet Assisting Program
participates in the training and care of the dogs.
See bottom of page to learn more about this program
participates in the training and care of the dogs.
See bottom of page to learn more about this program
Harmony High School Vet Assisting Program participates in the training and care of the dogs.
Every Tuesday and Thursday Pawsitive Action directors and volunteers transport the dogs to Harmony High School.
There are 199 students in the Vet Assisting Program at HHS. We are so proud of these young men and women for
learning how to provide medical care, train, groom and love these special dogs. The students of HHS are an intricate part
of the success of our program. Please support them by donating. It takes a village to raise a highly trained Assistance
Dog.
Every Tuesday and Thursday Pawsitive Action directors and volunteers transport the dogs to Harmony High School.
There are 199 students in the Vet Assisting Program at HHS. We are so proud of these young men and women for
learning how to provide medical care, train, groom and love these special dogs. The students of HHS are an intricate part
of the success of our program. Please support them by donating. It takes a village to raise a highly trained Assistance
Dog.
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