We first met Rania when she was just 14 years old - 11 years after she was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome.
At just 3-years-old, Rania suddenly found herself battling a genetic disorder for which there is no cure. Prader-Willi syndrome, also called PWS, is a very rare genetic disorder that affects the genes of chromosome 15. The symptoms of PWS present themselves in various ways, including behavior problems, intellectual disabilities, and short stature. For Rania, her PWS results in difficulties with anxiety, hunger, and meals.
PWS can affect the hunger centers of the brain, causing someone to never feel full, regardless of how much or how often they eat. It also causes changes to the metabolic system, meaning that someone with PWS will have to consume less calories than others in their age and size group. In summary, Rania always feels hungry, but cannot eat as much as her peers.
In our society, socialization often occurs during mealtimes: families gather at the dining room table, friends congregate at restaurants and cafes, even holidays are celebrated with food. Being around food or people eating is very difficult for Rania. She feels great anxiety in food-related situations, or in situations where eating occurs unexpectedly. This means that Rania feels anxious much of the time in social situations, in school, or when her family goes on outings.
When Rania experienced significant anxiety in social situations, she may have had to leave or would have a meltdown, which limited her social activities and brought special challenges to her family.
This is where W.A.G.S. 4 Kids came in.
""[We wanted a service dog] to help Rania deal with anxiety, facilitate being in public and school, and to help her develop empathy."
- Nahla, Rania's Mother
Our trainers, including our team of inmate trainers at Grafton Correctional Institution, began training Clyde for service when he was just 8 weeks old. Part of our mission is to provide our families with options for early intervention and pair their child with a service dog that is specially trained to meet their specific needs. Once we determined that Clyde was the dog for Rania, we began teaching him tasks that would address Rania's personal needs, such as "cuddle," "love," and "close," all of which can help her battle the anxiety she experiences in social situations. Bonus - Clyde was entirely motivated by love, not by treats, making him Rania's perfect match.
Clyde was officially placed with Rania on September 15th, 2019, and the magic began...
"Clyde has helped me calm down when I am upset by giving me love and affection in cuddle, close, and love. He also helps me feel emotionally safe and is a friendly, cuddly, furry friend to lean on for support when I need it most."
- Rania
Over the past year, we've watched Rania and Clyde form an unbreakable, almost magical bond that's exclusive to a service dog and their child. Clyde hasn't only made a difference in Rania's life, he has changed the lives of Rania's family members. Clyde is a sturdy and furry friend who helps keep Rania's anxiety at bay, making daily activities, including family outings and meals, bearable.
It's hard to express just how deep Rania and Clyde's bond runs, but pictures can speak a thousand words. Please watch this video to see how Rania and Clyde's relationship has developed over the past year.
It is a very Thankful Thanksgiving for Rania, Clyde, and the entire family, thanks to your ongoing support of W.A.G.S. 4 Kids’ programs and children - you are the reason we can continue helping children with special needs.
Check in next Thursday for the second part of our 2020 “A Thankful Thanksgiving” blog series.
If you’d like to change the life of another child in Rania’s name, please click the button below to make your online donation today. Along with us, you are “Growing Possibilities, One Child at a Time.”