Puppy love
<p>Silas, a cross between a Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever licks Luke Ackerman, 6, face during the family’s welcome party for Silas on Saturday afternoon. Silas was a gift to Luke, who is diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease called GM1 Gangliosidosis, through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.</p>
<p>Luke’s mom, Debra Ackerman, center, surrounded by friends and family opens a new dog bed for Silas at the welcome party for Silas on Saturday afternoon. Make-A-Wish provided all the supplies needed for a new dog plus one year of veterinary care.</p>
<p>Debra Ackerman pets their new dog Silas center with her son Luke Ackerman at their welcome party for Silas on Saturday afternoon. Silas was trained for two years to become an assistance dog through Canine Companions for Independence.</p>
Luke Ackerman was a little sleepy as he rested in his stroller in the sunshine Saturday afternoon in the backyard of his Hayden home.
But his eyes lit up when his new pal Silas, a golden retriever/yellow Lab mix, trotted over to say hello with a friendly lick to the face.
Luke, 6, has GM1 gangliosidosis, a genetic degenerative brain disease that affects growth development and muscle strength and compromises the ability to walk and speak.
Luke enjoys horse therapy and looking at his dog picture book, so last winter his parents and medical team decided a well-behaved, well-trained, gentle dog like Silas would bring him great joy.
Thanks to Make-A-Wish Idaho and Canine Companions for Independence, the Ackerman family welcomed their new furry friend into their home Friday evening and had a small party to the next day to celebrate.
"He's just the best dog," said Jill Marfice, a Make-A-Wish Idaho wish granter who serves on the board of directors and was instrumental in pairing Silas with the Ackermans.
"I couldn't imagine a better dog," she said. "He's just goofy and funny and he's got a great personality. It's like he's groomed for this and he does fun things for the family already."
Silas, whose name was originally Toto, was raised by a family in California and trained as a traditional service dog, but his tendency to be playful set him on a different path. He came to the Ackermans knowing a whole list of commands, and already impressed Luke's mom, Deb, with retrieving diapers for her and being mellow enough to allow her 5-year-old daughter, Montana, to take him for a walk. He also caused some laughter by running circles on the grass around their trampoline several times after his flight.
"He came in, and was checking everything out, went over to the boys and was licking their faces," Deb said.
Luke's brother, Isaiah, 4, has also been diagnosed with GM1 gangliosidosis. During the party, Isaiah reached out to Silas and enjoyed the doggie kisses frequently bestowed on him.
"It has its challenges, you know, they can't walk around and I can't tell them, 'Go get yourself something to eat,' so it doesn't work that way," Deb said. "It's less messy for the most part, because I basically feed them."
Marfice and a few other Make-A-Wish volunteers attended the party and brought several gifts for Deb to open with her children. They received lots of canine goodies, including essentials such as feeding and grooming supplies as well as plenty of toys. Among the toys was a squeaky ball Silas was most ecstatic to receive, as he bounded around the yard once it was in his possession.
The celebration became a real "puppy party" when Deb's good friend, Angel Busicchia of Rathdrum, brought her six children and two black Lab mix puppies, Piper and Bravo, over to meet Silas and see the kids.
"Every time we come over, they come over, and Silas will come over to our house," Busiccia said. "Definitely part of the family."
The Ackermans began working with Make-A-Wish in March and were on the waiting list for a dog all summer. Deb's husband of seven years, Casey, is currently working in the oil fields, but she said she has been sending him pictures and updates about their new addition.
"She has expressed that it is a wonderful, overwhelming feeling that people actually care about her and her children, that they would put this stuff together for her," Angel said of Deb. "She's just very touched and grateful for it."