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Blow-in Gael helps autistic brothers 05.05.11

by Linda McGrory

A GORGEOUS golden retriever is transforming the lives of two autistic brothers in Inishowen.
Two-year old Gael 'blew' into the home of the Kerrigan family at Iskaheen, Muff, in December, improving things for the family within two weeks.
Fiona and Michael Kerrigan have three sons, Cathair, 9, who does not have autism, and his two younger brothers Ronan, 7 and Cormac, 5, who both suffer from the debilitating condition.
The beautiful retriever is ‘assistance dog’ for Cormac who has a more severe case of the condition. But she has become an integral part of the Kerrigan household who, before her arrival, had rarely been out all together as a family.
"Everything is so much calmer since Gael arrived. I don't know how we coped before she came along," said 42-year old Fiona.
The part-time office worker and her husband, Michael, 46, were devastated when their second-born son, Ronan, was diagnosed with autism in 2007. They were in disbelief, just six months later, to learn their youngest child also had the condition.
Assistance dog, Gael, pictured with the Kerrigan family at home in Iskaheen, Muff, including Ronan, at front, parents Fiona and Michael, holding Cormac, and eldest son Cathair.
Cormac has no speech, is uncommunicative and will only eat three things, namely, chocolate buttons, brown toast and soft white rolls. His dietician has had to prescribe six daily nutritional drinks to supplement his basic diet.
Before Gael arrived from the Irish Guide Dogs centre in Cork during the big freeze on December 3, simple trips to the shoe shop or hairdressers had to be planned with military precision, often only to be abandoned at the last minute.
"Cormac hates noise of any kind and would go nowhere without screaming and crying and struggling to run away. We were nearly housebound and couldn't go anywhere as a family. A few times, the dietician had to see him in our car because he wouldn't go into the clinic," added Fiona. "Cormac doesn't even know I'm his mother."
Now, once Gael's working harness is on and the five year old boy is safely secured to her with a special waste belt, he will go anywhere his parents wish to take him. He stunned his parents by sitting through a recent trip to the dentist, with faithful Gael by his side.
The couple have not had a holiday in ten years but receive much-needed support and respite from the Inishowen Children's Autism Related Education (iCARE) group, as well as Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) at Ronan's primary school and Cormac's pre-school.
Ronan, meanwhile, is talkative and a little more outgoing but his life is dominated by ritual including the wearing of yellow tops only. Once, full-time carer, Michael, had to retrace an entire journey to the village in the car with him, because he forgot to close the garden gate the first time. Ronan's intense focus on ritual is now eased simply by telling him 'Gael won't like that', say his parents. His love of Gael is all the more surprising because Ronan is terrified of all other dogs.
“Since Gael arrived, our lives are completely different. We can take Cormac out anywhere, confident there will be no screaming. He is so much calmer in situations like the doctor’s and we can even go into a café now when we couldn’t before,” said Michael.
When not working, the playful retriever enjoys time out with Cathair and indulges her only vice, carrying the family's slippers out into the garden. Cathair recently introduced her to his and Ronan's primary school, Scoil Naomh Bríd in Muff village where she has become somewhat of a local celebrity. Cathair says he is much happier since Gael arrived. "I like playing with her and there is not as much screaming in the house," he said.
Michael undertook an intensive week-long training course in Cork in preparation for the dog's arrival at the Kerrigans' spacious bungalow. He continues to tutor his family on how best to handle her. "A Gael storm blew up from Cork and changed all our lives for the better," added Michael.
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