When Kaiden was 10 years old and first met Flinn, he thought he was just tagging along with his mom, Lisa, to sign some papers. Instead, he was greeted by a tall, gentle Labrador retriever who happily approached him with a wagging tail.
He knew instantly that he was finally meeting his very own buddy dog.
“I cried. I don’t think anyone there had a dry eye,” Lisa recalls. “Kaiden was in complete shock – he didn’t even know what to say. And that’s rare!”
It was the summer of 2020, after months of waiting through pandemic travel delays. The surprise moment marked the beginning of a bond that would change their family.
From fear to confidence
Kaiden, who is now 15, has lived with partial sight and hearing loss his entire life. He admits things were harder before Flinn came along.
“I can’t see anything in the dark,” he explains. “I wasn’t afraid of the dark – I was afraid of what might be in the dark.”
Once, he got caught outside at night and couldn’t find his way back home.
“He cried out for his brother and clung to a wooden post until help came,” Lisa recalls. “I worried about how he would ever build the confidence to be independent.”
That all changed when Flinn arrived.
From day one, the pair was inseparable. Flinn curls up under Kaiden’s desk when he’s doing homework, trots beside him to the hockey rink, and even claims his own seat at the arena.
“He helps me quite a bit,” says Kaiden. “We play football, we go shopping, we do everything together.
Lisa adds, “Since getting Flinn, Kaiden’s learned a lot of responsibility – how to care for him, use cues, and even brush his teeth.”
Opening new doors
For Kaiden and Lisa, Flinn is so much more than just a buddy dog.
“He’s family,” Lisa says. “Flinn brought us closer together, gave Kaiden more independence, and even helped our extended family understand what Kaiden goes through.”
The bond also helped open doors to new friendships. Through CNIB programs and camps, Kaiden has met peers who share similar experiences.
“These connections will last a lifetime,” Lisa says. “It’s like a CNIB family – everyone has each other’s back.
“It goes way beyond the programs. They bring kids together, so they know they’re not different. That’s where they get their confidence – because they actually understand each other.”
A brighter future
Flinn has not only given Kaiden greater independence today – he’s preparing him for tomorrow.
“If Kaiden chooses to get a guide dog in the future, he’ll be ready,” Lisa says. “He knows what the work and responsibility look like. And the confidence he’s gained – you can’t put a price on that.”
For Lisa, there’s no doubt the CNIB community has been essential.
“As a parent, I’d be lost without CNIB. The supporters of CNIB are phenomenal. Without them, we wouldn’t have family camps, buddy dogs, white canes, or the community we depend on.
“Kaiden has grown in ways I never imagined. He’s more confident, more independent, and more prepared for the future.”
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