July 28

Bon Jour! I am sorry it has been so long since my last post but things have been quite busy since Mike, Nat and Jared arrived. When we weren't sight seeing, we were watching Ryan and kids working with their dogs and walking routes around two neighboring towns, St Hyacinthe or Boloeil.This has been a great opportunity for Mike to get an idea of how Ryan and his dog work together and get answers to any questions he may have. I think Ryan loved showing off his skills for his father, too. :)
We leave tomorrow and, while I am so ready to return home, I get teary eyed every time I think about leaving. This experience has been remarkable in so many ways. Words can't even express how grateful I am for this amazing dog that Ryan has been given. Watching Ryan work with him fills me with a sense of hope of what the future may hold for them, a sense of peace because I know he will always be able to do what makes him happy and an overwhelming sense of pride for the young man he has become. With this dog, I feel, and I know that Ryan feels, that there are no limits to what he can do.That is, well, priceless!
Leaving the friends we have made will be hard. I called Ryan earlier tonight to ask him if he wanted to go out to dinner with us and he said "sure!". After a brief pause he said "Mom, I really want to get back to Mira early so I can be with my friends for the last time." He has made some amazing and, I believe, long lasting friendships with the kids here.
I will have a difficult time saying goodbye to the people who work here and the other parents who have gone through this experience with me. I can not say enough about the people who work for Mira. They are some of the most compassionate people I have ever met and I feel so blessed to have met them. They feel like family at this point. I am going to miss Giselle and Jean's cooking, Gille's lively sense of humor, Margaret's company and watching Big Brother with my dear, new friend Spencer from the wheelchair program.
Thank you, Mira USA and Bob Baille for this wonderful gift you have given Ryan, and me. It has been life-changing for both of us!
Tomorrow, we will take the train from Montreal to Philadelphia where we do some sight seeing for a day. Ryan and I will catch a flight back to Aiken on Sunday and Mike, Nat and Jared will drive back. I will post again as soon as I can.
Au voir!
Here are some pictures for the past few days:

When in Canada, must visit hockey store. Jared was beside himself!

Natalie holding itty bitty pads for a very tiny hockey player. They start them young here!

Beautiful Chambly.

Getting ready to go on a route.

Ryan and Eric.

Ryan and his wonderful orientation and mobility specialist, Helene. She was GREAT!

Ryan, chef extroardinaire, Giselle and trainer, Gilles.

View from Boloeil.

The whole gang and Gilles.

Spencer and his dog and father.