One boy and his buddy (dog)
Eve Hellier-Smith’s son, Rubin, was born blind, but he now has a special furry friend to take on all his adventures…
‘Vesper, breakfast!’ I called, pouring dog food into his bowl. But rather than the usual thunder of paws on the stairs, there was silence. ‘Vesper?’ I shouted again. Still nothing.
Going upstairs, I went into my son Rubin’s bedroom, where Vesper usually slept. ‘Are you not hungry?’ I asked. Our golden retriever sat patiently by Rubin’s bed, staring into my eyes.
It was then I noticed Rubin was lying in bed listlessly. ‘I don’t feel well, Mum,’ he said. As I bent down and felt his warm forehead, I gave Vesper an understanding smile. That was why he hadn’t come down for breakfast. It was just another example of Vesper looking out for my boy.
Ever since we’d got our pooch in October 2020, he’d changed our lives. Vesper was a very special pet – a buddy dog, given to us by Guide Dogs Cymru to help my six-year-old son.
Rubin had been born blind. I’d quickly noticed he wasn’t looking at me and instead was focusing on the brightest light in the room. Consultants had dismissed my worries but as a second-time mum who already had 21-month-old Molly, I knew to trust my mother’s instinct.
When, at a couple of weeks old, his eyes started to shake, I refused to leave the hospital until I got a second opinion. He was eventually diagnosed with persistent foetal vasculature, which caused the blindness, and Nystagmus, which explained the eye movements.
He had no sight at all, just light perception. ‘Sometimes vision takes longer to catch up,’ the consultant told me.
I have to admit, I was scared. Scared my son wouldn’t experience life the same way Molly and I did. I realised just how much the world is set up for those with sight. From learning through colours and communicating through body language, I worried about what my son was going to miss.
Luckily, Rubin did gain partial vision in one eye over the next few months, but the shaking continued, forcing Rubin to hold his head awkwardly, his chin resting his left shoulder, which helped him focus. Doctors advised operations to help.
It was frightening, as a single mum since Rubin was just a few weeks old, to make those decisions alone – but I knew it was for the best. And my amazing boy bounced back from three operations before his first birthday.
That was him all over. He never let his lack of sight hold him back. He was into everything, crawling everywhere
and exploring toys. Molly adored him and they loved nothing better than cuddling up together and her reading to him.
We lived in Crickhowell, South Wales, and were always out and about. Molly and Rubin loved going for walks through woods and up mountains.
He made friends and, though he walked with a cane, his smile was as bright as the clothes he insisted on wearing. I was so proud of him – and Molly, who watched her little brother like a hawk, couldn’t do enough for him.
As he grew, the only things that scared my brave boy were stairs, as he had no depth perception, and cars – he couldn’t see how close they were. He’d jump into hedges when he heard an engine and wait until the noise had silenced.
Doctors tried injecting Botox into Rubin’s eye muscles to help with the shaking, but he needed to be put under general anaesthetic every 12 weeks. They became concerned about the long-term effect this could have.
Eventually, in January 2019, a consultant detached Rubin’s eye muscles and reattached them in a different position, to reduce the shaking – and his posture. It was scary surgery, especially as when he first came out of theatre, his sight was worse. But looking back, it was the best thing we could’ve done.
Well, apart from get Vesper. I’d always hoped Rubin would get a guide dog when he was older. As a child, he was so independent and loved swimming and horse-riding. I didn’t want that to change.
I found out about buddy dogs – dogs who, for one reason or another, had been highly trained but hadn’t quite made it to guide dog level, and so are given to visually impaired children to get them used to having a dog around.
I contacted the lady who fundraises for guide dogs locally to find out more. ‘Unfortunately, we don’t have any in our area,’ she told me. ‘But you should come to one of our experience days at Leamington Spa.’
When we went, in July 2020, it was incredible. Molly and Rubin loved meeting the dogs, and there was so much information. A staff member took our details and promised to get in touch if a buddy dog became available.
Four months later, we got a call. ‘We have a dog who has completed his training but has just failed to become a full guide dog,’ they explained. ‘Would you like to have a four-week trial with him?’
Our vote was unanimous – a resounding yes! We bought him a bed and set up a space for him in the kitchen. ‘This is my bedroom and the bathroom,’ Rubin said, showing Vesper round the house on his first afternoon.
As we all settled down in the living room, Vesper disappeared and came back, dragging his bed into the centre of the room. We knew then; he was here to stay.
He’s such an amazing dog. He can be bounding around a field or playing tug-of-war with Rubin but as soon as we put on his special ‘buddy dog’ jacket, he instantly quietens. We have a double lead, so Rubin can hold one, while I remain in control with the other.
Vesper is fantastic at giving Rubin the independence he’s starting to crave. He pauses at every step, so Rubin knows what’s coming and shows him the easiest paths to walk while we’re out.
And if Rubin is tired or feeling unsteady on his feet, Vesper will rest with him.
Vesper instinctively seemed to know he was there to help Rubin and now sleeps in his room, but he also loves Molly and she him. A bit of a worrier, it’s really helped her having a dog around.
He’s so protective of us, I’ll often hear him get up in the middle of the night, pacing our rooms to make sure we’re all safe before going back to sleep.
Now, I’m 31, and I can’t imagine life without our fourlegged pal. He really is top dog!