Service dog "godsend" for girl with autism
Fundraiser to help pay for Spencer's training
Stephanie Hounsell
Published on
Apr 08, 2008
For the past several minutes, six-year-old Christina Lee-Montada has been sitting quietly beside a sleeping golden retriever, her feet resting on the dog's back.
To a casual observer, it's a normal scene. To her family, it's a small miracle.
You see, Christina suffers from both autism and Noonan syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can hinder mental and physical development.
She often finds herself so frustrated at her inability to communicate that she resorts to self-injuring behaviour, delivering continuous blows to her head, leaving welts and bruises.
Calmness is something that generally eludes her. But as pets are known to do, Spencer the dog imparts a sense of peace to Christina. And when Christina's calm, her whole family is able to relax.
"Spencer's amazing. I think God was looking out for us when we got Spencer," said Christina's mom, Monique.
Christina has only known Spencer for about a month, and isn't generally a "dog person." But for some reason, she's taken to him.
SPENCER A BLESSING
That fact is both a thrill and a relief to Lee-Montada and Christina's father, Ben Montada, who, after reaching the end of their ropes, decided to give one more thing a try in hopes of helping Christina: a service dog.
When most people think of service dogs, they think of someone who's blind or deaf. But they can also be helpful to some people with autism. In just a short period of time, Christina has proven that.
Because of the autism and Noonan syndrome, Christina can't eat on her own -- she requires a feeding tube. She can't speak, finding other ways to communicate.
She also can't walk on her own -- yet.
Her parents think Spencer will be able to help her get around -- one of many ways he'll be of assistance to the little girl -- acting as a sort of walker that she can lean on for support.
Unfortunately, as with most things in life, enlisting the person who'll train Spencer to be a service dog costs money. About $15,000, to be exact.
That's where Montada and Lee-Montada hope the community might open their hearts and lend a hand.
On Saturday, Apr. 19, a fundraising dinner called Chrissy's Crusade will take place at Halton Hills Place, 3090 Steeles Ave. W., in Milton. Tickets cost $65, which includes a sit-down dinner, a dance, a silent auction and prizes. The silent auction starts at 6 p.m., with the dinner at 7:30 p.m.
Of course, Spencer and his trainer, Wade Beattie, will be the evening's special guests.
Organizers hope to raise enough money to pay for Spencer's training, as well as private behavioural treatments, since there's a long waiting list for government-funded programs.
The Montadas decided to go the private route after realizing there was a long waiting list for most of the larger non-profit guide dog organizations -- and realizing Christina didn't fit all the criteria.
They contacted Beattie, founder of Autism Dog Services.
Beattie recommended that the family look to find a young dog -- not a puppy -- with a good disposition.
Lee-Montada put a notice on the Internet asking if anyone had a dog they thought might be suitable.
She was contacted by a former Milton woman, Nicole Faulknor, who decided almost immediately to give two-and-a-half-year-old Spencer to the Montadas.
"She thinks Spencer wasn't intended to stay with her -- that she was supposed to get him ready for Christina," Lee-Montada said.
Beattie said he couldn't have asked for a better dog to work with. Spencer appears to have everything it takes to be a service dog, both physically and temperamentally.
Spencer currently spends the week with Beattie, undergoing a rigorous training process, while he spends the weekends with the Montadas. It's expected he'll be fully trained and living permanently with the Montadas in about five months, Beattie said.
Christina's parents said it was obvious from the beginning that something wasn't right with their daughter.
There wasn't the usual interaction with others, her hair fell out and she was skin and bones, Montada explained.
At about seven months, she was diagnosed with Noonan syndrome. She was labeled autistic last summer.
With two sons to also care for -- 14-year-old Jason and four-year-old Nicholas -- Lee-Montada said it's a constant struggle finding energy for everyone.
Needless to say, Christina's led a difficult life.
The Montadas recently shaved her head since she'd pulled her hair out on one side.
"This is the only thing that came easy to Christina -- this dog," her mom said.
Though Christina might not be your average little girl, it's clear she's the apple of her parents' eyes -- and that they'd do anything for her.
"She's a little princess," her dad said.
"She's a little diva," Montada-Lee added.
Her parents make frequent references to the future -- one where Christina isn't trapped in her own world.
"We say when she gets married she'll walk down the aisle and everything will be fine," Montada said, smiling hopefully at his daughter.
For event tickets or more information, call (905) 876-0052, e-mail mom-4-life@hotmail.com or visit http://tinyurl.com/3ctjg8. A trust fund has been set up at TD Canada Trust. Donations can be made at any location with the following information: branch -- 30442, account -- 6260261, institution -- 004.
Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at sthiessen@miltoncanadianchampion.com.