Racing through the snow laden woods, Bella's imagination was exploding with new sounds and smells.  Responding to "careful" "heel" "this way" she navigated the trails the best a blind, 5 month old puppy could.  When she stopped to offer a 40 ft. oak tree an invitation to play with a wiggly, barky play bow, I saw even more ways in which the experience of raising her would impact my heart.  That play bow opened my eyes to seeing new perspectives of the world through her eyes, and inspired this blog.

Rescued from a bad breeder, Bella is blind, and her brother Brady suffers significant visual impairment, yet he frequently functions as her guide.  Seeking to prevent the isolation I imagined Bella would experience alone in the world as a blind dog, Jake and I decided to adopt them both.   And yes, mayhem ensued.  

They both were apparently infected with PARVO when we brought them home, becoming symptomatic after about 3 days.  Several hospitalizations, tube feedings, force feedings nearly broke our hearts (definitely broke our bank account) and while Bella came through well, Brady nearly died.  In a sunny fall Sunday, I wrapped him and took him outside to rock and comfort him, believing he was actively dying.  I talked, cried, rocked.  He laid limp, then after a while, began to sniff.... sniff more.... poked his head up and began to wiggle to be let down.  He staggered around at first, but later that day ate his first unforced meal in 2 weeks, and by evening was playing with Bella, whose growth now well exceeded his and whose enthusiasm he now needed a little protection from.  Those early days were excruciatingly difficult - the emotionally wrenching crisis combined with massive messes that we cleaned up around the clock with our 2 hour potty-outside trips.  But we all survived, and they now thrive.  At 5 months of age are starting to get so rough with each other I am not sure quite what to do!
In the brief 45 second opportunities I find between chasing puppies and doing life, I hope to blog about the unique perspectives Bella teaches me.  Perspectives of blind trust, blind faith, blind hope - and how they are shaping our world.