Ebony has found joy in the little things again, thanks to her own guiding companion Hollie and the support of her loving partner Adam.
Over the past few years, Ebony has come so far. Ebony had a rough start to life with her vision. At just two years old, she was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye condition that doctors said would likely rob her of her eyesight by the time she was 25.
“I always knew I would go completely blind,” Ebony said. “And even though I knew, nothing really could have prepared me for the challenges that brings.”
Despite her early diagnosis, Ebony’s childhood memories sound just like experiences we’ve all had – riding bikes around the neighborhood, playing with friends and reading books. But for Ebony, growing up also meant she was getting closer and closer to eventually losing her sight.
By the time Ebony turned 16, her eyesight began to rapidly deteriorate. The life she knew was being turned upside down much earlier than doctors had anticipated.
“Being a teenager is already a pivotal point in life, so to lose so much of my vision at the same time was very challenging,” she said.
“It was the little things I lost that mattered the most. I went from hanging out with my friends, being able to ride a bike and walk my dog around the streets, to not being able to do that anymore.”
Ebony had to learn to do things differently, so she turned to Guide Dogs for support.
Some of the specialists at Guide Dogs helped Ebony learn to safely navigate her community using a white cane to find her way and maintain her independence. But Ebony was still missing the confidence she needed for personal success.
Like any teenager, Ebony just wanted to fit in and feel accepted.
“I never really felt comfortable using my cane in front of other people,” she explained. “It made me feel different and separate from society to the point where I would refuse to use it.”
Coming to terms with losing your vision is extremely confronting. With your help, we can continue to be there for those who need support through those challenging times.
Ebony chose instead to rely on others to help her get around safely. Over the following months, she became totally dependent on those around her for support, so she could continue the activities she loved, like going for runs and being active.
“Although the people around me were more than happy to help, I had to rely on them and that took away a lot of my sense of independence,” she said. “I also knew how much of an impact it was having on their time and their lives.”
Ebony needed a change – a new way to regain her freedom and independence, as her vision continued to decline – so she turned to Guide Dogs again for support.
By now, Ebony was a young adult, and we knew she was ready to find the perfect blend of independence, safety and companionship that only a Guide Dog could offer. Your support today means that more Guide Dogs can be ready for people like Ebony when they’re needed the most.
After completing the assessment process, Ebony was added to our waitlist as we set out to find the right guiding companion to suit her active lifestyle.
Just like people, each Guide Dog has its own individual personality. Our team of trainers and mobility specialists invest time working together as match-makers to consider all the factors that make for a perfect partnership between person and dog. This includes considering personality traits and quirks, home behaviours and needs, walking speeds and even levels of energy.
The speed and effectiveness of our matching process also relies on the support we receive. It’s thanks to supporters like you, that we can keep our wait times to a minimum and train more dogs to be ready for their forever match.
While Ebony waited for her forever match, her eyesight continued to deteriorate. Like her vision, her mental health was also declining as she struggled with the stigma she felt came with using her cane at such a young age.
Fortunately, there was some new brightness in Ebony’s developing darkness. It seemed that Ebony was also an expert match-maker for herself, finding new love with Adam.
Ebony and Adam met at a mutual friend’s birthday and a relationship soon bloomed between them.
“From the very beginning, I knew Ebony was someone I wanted to be around,” Adam said.
“It was the little things that just made her so special. She was very down-to-earth and she just makes you feel comfortable.”
In the rollercoaster of life, although Adam had brought new light and love into Ebony’s world, the couple soon faced a heartbreaking loss together, with Ebony experiencing the miscarriage of their first child.
“It was such a sad time,” Adam said. “We’re both from big families and had plans of having a big family ourselves, so this was quite a shock. But we had each other, and we didn’t give up.”
And soon, more support was on the way.
A beautiful black Labrador named Hollie, with her lovely temperament and a strong willingness to work, was matched by the Guide Dogs Team with Ebony.
“I remember that period in my life was so challenging, but although it was a sad time, it was also bittersweet because Hollie came into my life to be that companion for me,” Ebony explained.
“The first night that we stayed together, I was crying and Hollie walked straight over to me. She rested her chin on my lap and in that moment, I knew she was my perfect match.”
The bond between Ebony and Hollie is truly special and we are so thankful that with the help of generous supporters like you, we were able to match Ebony with Hollie when she needed that companionship and support the most.
The extraordinary relationship between Guide Dogs and their handlers is as much about love, friendship, and trust as it is about independence and mobility.
We want to help all Queenslanders who need a Guide Dog to experience this wonderful connection in 2023.
The instant connection Ebony and Hollie shared was only the beginning for this perfect pair.
“We were immediately drawn to each other and the connection we share was there right from the beginning,” Ebony remembers.
“Hollie is so caring and sensitive and just knows when you need a hug or a bit of love. With her by my side, I’ve never looked back.”
Since then, Hollie has been with Ebony and Adam through some of life’s biggest milestones, including the birth of their eldest daughter Arorangi.
I still remember Ebony telling me about the first time they introduced Arorangi to Hollie. As soon as Adam opened the door, Hollie ran straight over to Ebony and the new baby – full tail and body wagging, non-stop wriggling and paws tapping the ground. It was a moment of excitement and love Ebony and Adam will always cherish.
“We were so happy to have her there. Hollie is such a big part of our family too, so it wouldn’t have been complete without her,” Ebony said.
And Hollie has been there every step of the way since. Within a year, Ebony and Adam welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Tavake, followed by twin girls, Manaia and Koia.
“We always wanted to have a lot of children and now we have four beautiful kids,” Ebony shared.
“Having Hollie during that time made such a difference. Her ability to adapt to all the changes and everything that comes along with bringing more children into the family is remarkable. You can’t measure the impact that’s had on our lives.”
Ebony’s life-long dream of having a large family had become a reality. However, as her family grew, her vision also continued to decline.
“I had to continue to adapt and make modifications within my home, but the one thing I never felt like I had to make any adjustments with, was Hollie,” Ebony told me.
“Hollie has always been an amazing guide and even as my vision has continued to change, I can still access the community and go out with her by my side.”
I can see just how much Hollie gives Ebony the freedom and independence to live her life on her own terms.
While life looks a little bit different now with four kids, for 29-year-old Ebony, it’s still the little things that Hollie helps her with that she cherishes most.
With Hollie’s support, Ebony continues to enjoy activities like going out for walks with her children, visiting parks and even going on holidays without needing to always rely on others for support.
“Without Hollie, our life would be very different. It would really limit how much I was able to do with my children.”
Seeing Ebony with Adam and their family is incredibly heartwarming. Just like all mothers, she showers her children with love and it’s clear that maintaining a very active role in their lives is so important to her.
“Adam and I are equal partners,” Ebony said.
“We have children and a family together, and I always want to contribute just as much as he does.
“Having Hollie helps make that possible, especially in public settings when we’re out and about. If we’re at the shops or in a surrounding I’m not familiar with, I can have Hollie follow Adam, and I’m still able to feel safe while carrying the children and being hands-on.”
There is so much that goes into training a Guide Dog to build this level of trust with their Handler.
These remarkable dogs need to be capable of helping someone safely navigate their day-to-day life, no matter what situations they encounter. This is a long process, taking two years and costing over $50,000 to breed, raise and train each dog to be equipped with these extensive skills as qualified working Guide Dogs in our community.
Ebony remembers that Adam was blown away by Hollie’s ability to safely guide her when Hollie first came into their lives.
“When I first got Hollie, Adam was a bit unsure of us being out alone as he’d never seen us working together. He wanted to tag along on our first walk to make sure I’d be okay,” Ebony explained.
“By the time we got home, Adam was so impressed! I didn’t know it at the time because Hollie had done such a great job, but Adam later told me that it was bin day and there were bins all over the footpath. They were everywhere. Hollie was so amazing and guided me past them so easily that I didn’t even know they were there. We didn’t run into a single bin.”
With Hollie by her side, Ebony feels her connection to those around her has also grown and she now feels confident going out in her community.
“I feel like Hollie has helped bridge the gap between me and other people in society,” she told me.
“I think the majority of people really love animals and dogs, so Hollie makes me feel more connected to others.
“When it came to using my cane, I felt like people wouldn’t approach me the same way that they would now that I have Hollie. Now people are always interested to know how she trains, how she works and what it’s like working with a Guide Dog, so she’s really helped create that connection.”
The impact Hollie has had is life-changing for Ebony, Adam and their whole family. Hollie continues to bring so much joy into their lives and gives them more opportunities to spend time together as a family, out in the community.
“Since we’ve had kids and our family’s grown, having the freedom to be able to go out to the shops, to take our kids to the park or play centres has made such a huge difference in our lives,” Adam said.
“They might be small things to other people, but for us, they’re the real shining lights that we’re always so grateful for.”
Even at just four years of age, Ebony and Adam’s daughter, Arorangi, knows how special Hollie is and the important role she plays in their family.
“Hollie is my favourite dog in the whole wide world!” Arorangi said with her hands showing me just how big the world is to a four-year-old.
“Hollie makes me and Mum really happy. I love her so much.”
Ebony and Adam are now planning their next adventure, celebrating Christmas with their extended family in New Zealand. It will be their first time travelling together since having kids, and Hollie will have her own special doggie bag and even her own spot in the plane cabin, right next to Ebony.
“I feel really comfortable knowing that Hollie’s going to be there supporting me during this holiday,” Ebony said.
“It’s the little things like feeling safe with the family while navigating through the airports and going into unfamiliar places that means so much. I know Hollie will do a great job of supporting me and helping me to support my children as we travel.”
Hollie has helped create so many opportunities for Ebony to live with freedom and independence. Family is at the heart of Ebony’s world and I think the way Hollie has helped Ebony achieve and enjoy the little things that matter during our different stages of life, is truly special.
“Having Hollie is like I’m breathing for the first time,” Ebony said.
“There was so much that I felt limited me before she came into my life and having her really does feel like I’m able to breathe now. I can live my life the way that I want to.”
It’s inspiring to see much they have achieved together and how their bond has continued to grow through life’s challenges.
With your help we can continue to change more lives for the better, so more Queenslanders can have the confidence to follow their dreams and live the life they choose.
Our hope is that we can give that same gift to more Queenslanders in need in 2023. Will you help make this happen with a Christmas gift today?
“I’m so thankful to everybody who has supported Guide Dogs in the past and made it possible for me to have Hollie,” Ebony shared.
“The emotional support and her ability to guide me has been the most amazing thing I’ve ever experienced aside from having my own children. It’s just life-changing.”
Thank you again for your kind support today. Your generosity this Christmas will change the lives of many in 2023 in such a meaningful way.
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