Daly’s Stories

	Daly is a student at Madison Junior High in Naperville District 203. She is an active teen who loves playing sports and hanging with friends. She also enjoys opportunities to volunteer and continues to see ways to help others. Her future plans include going into the medical field, perhaps to become a surgeon.

Full Circle My name is Daly Dodsworth, and I am thirteen years old. Three anda half years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, an incurable disease caused by the failure of the pancreas by the immune system. Upon being diagnosed, I was in the hospital for three days. I was scared and away from my friends and siblings. My parents alternated spending time with me. As you would expect, I watched TV for the duration of my stay, which can be boring. However, when I look back on the days that I was in the hospital, I don’t think of the times I know that I cried, or the pain from IVs and shots. I think about the things that brightened my day, one of them being therapy dogs visiting my room. Read more…

A Picnic to Remember The Collie Rescue of Greater Illinois Picnic buzzed at Green Valley Forest Preserve. Many picnickers, with their collies, filled the large open space. The perfect green grass reflected the sunshine from above. Large oaks provided the needed shade on the very unusually hot September day. Tents lined the area, all with a different purpose: prizes, raffles, auctions, and under the main pavilion was a delicious feast to be served. The sound of barking collies and people’s excited voices filled the air. More than 60 dogs became instant companions, all on their best behavior. Read more…

Seize the Opportunity Making others happy through the efforts of volunteer work quickly becomes contagious. After my first experience attending a nursing home with a therapy dog, I was enthusiastic to return. Ted Slupik has been working alongside service dogs for many years. He made a visit to my school, Madison Junior High, to share with us his newly written book, Sophie…Best Friends Are Forever. Ted and his collie, Rosebud, were kind enough to allow two friends and me accompany them on a day of work. Their kindness continued with a second visit about a year later. Read more…

A Moment in Time I started my therapy dog career with a rough coated collie named Sophie in 2002. Sophie was the most gentle and loving dog you could ever hope to meet. She became your best friend immediately. We worked primarily at a local hospital for 3 hours every week for over 12-1/2 years. We met and gave comfort to over 10,000 patients and visitors during that time period and many of them left the hospital with happy memories. But none of our visits were as special as meeting Daly Dodsworth. Read more…