Lauryn Treacy and ‘Graham’ at her home in Oulart. Pic: John Walsh
A LOCAL family received an early Christmas present after their daughter, who was told she would never be able to walk, took her first steps with the aid of an assistance dog.
Little Lauryn Tracy from Oulart, who suffers from cerebral palsy, spent a full week at the Dogs for the Disabled headquarters in Cork with her parents Gavin and Leona, brother Brandon and her assistance dog Graham where both she and her four-legged helper were trained how to walk with each other.
A proud Gavin shared a short video on Twitter of his daughter taking her first steps with Graham by her side.
“It was a long and tiring week but they both passed. It’s a lovely positive way for us to end the year,” he said, speaking to The Echo. He added that his daughter and her new dog had been showstoppers during their time in Cork.
“Everyone stopped to talk to her. She walked around Cork City with Graham and that was the first time she had ever walked on the street. The best thing is that she was bearing all of that weight herself – the dog was just there to help her balance.”
[Full story in this week’s Echo newspaper]