Holly is our wonderful long-haired German Shepherd that we rescued about a year and a half ago. She provides us with unconditional love and makes us smile even when we have bad days.
My husband, Jake Goldman, suffers from dystonia on a daily basis and our dog Holly helps him get through the rough days. She helps him get his daily exercise in by going on walks. (She’ll remind him with her cries, haha!) This helps reduce the muscle stiffness and spasms he experiences in his back, which are his primary symptoms of dystonia. He underwent DBS (deep brain stimulation, essentially brain surgery that connects from a part of his brain down to a pacemaker that rests on his upper right chest) almost twenty years ago to help the plethora of symptoms he was experiencing such as; muscle twitching, stiffness, etc. He has to go to Mass General every 5 or so years to get the battery replaced. We haven’t had to go since we rescued Holly but we are sure that she will be imperative during his recovery!
Even when his back is having a “better day”, Holly is there to help provide emotional support. Whether it be her cuteness, or her providing distractions to the stressors of daily life, we wouldn’t know what to do without her.
You can help Holly meet her $250 fundraising goal by donating to the DMRF here.
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