Hi All,

Please will you pray.  I need it.  For those of you who are guide dog
owners, you will understand a little better, perhaps, but you'll all get the
gist by the time I've written this . . ..  It may be a little long so skip
if you want to.

As most of you know, because of my back problems, I have worked my present
guide dog (number 4)in a limited manner (short walks, stopping and starting,
sometimes unable for some periods of time).  He's well established and is
now beginning to come up to retirement (being ten in April).  Incidentally,
I've had a guide dog for almost 34 years and for over ten of those I
actually worked at Guide Dogs and spent another 10 working voluntarily.

Bottom line:  I have been harrassed by them for a while now as they've been
wanting to see me frequently, to check everything's OK.  I accept I can only
do a little for them each visit and we all know (unless God acts for me)
then this will be my last dog and then I probably won't be able to go out
alone at all.

I'm just not coping with this.  I was asked to see them on a date just
before Christmas and ligitimately put it off because it was the busyest week
of the year and there was no way I could fit any more in.  I still am
limited, physically, as well as with my back, and get too tired to cope if I
put in too much.

Now they want to see me again either a week on Monday (which will follow a
really horrendous weekend for me) or the next day.  To be honest, I don't
want to see them at all.  I feel constantly "hassled" by them and know that,
although it will be hard, I won't let Fabian go on past his ability to do
so.

I just need your prayers because this is bringing out all the wrong sort of
feelings from me and I'm not liking the situation one bit.  I have to make a
response tomorrow (or perhaps Tuesday at the latest) and this is all beyond
me!

As it is, I'm becoming very stressed at going out alone at all and can't
manage a long cane because of my back problems, but I don't really want to
give up all my independence either!

Thanks for your support.


--
Carol