Harry and Kowhai

“Kowhai’s assistance in helping Harry self-manage his condition is beyond what we ever thought possible,” says mum Natasha.

6-year-old Harry lives in the Bay of Plenty with his mum Natasha, dad Ben and brother James.

Harry has Congenital Myasthenia, a neuromuscular disorder which means his body doesn’t produce enough acetylcholine, the chemical responsible for carrying messages from your brain to your body. This can cause him to stop breathing at a moment’s notice, requiring him to be put on a ventilator to avoid brain injury.

The first two years of Harry’s life were spent mostly in hospital, and the following two were spent largely at home as his family adjusted to managing his medical condition.

These were challenging years for Harry and his family. His loving parents were constantly on edge as they frequently monitored his breathing – preparing to place him on a ventilator immediately should his breathing suddenly cease.

Desperate to try anything that may help Harry, his parents decided to put him on the waitlist for an Assistance Dog when he was just two years old.

“As much as we wished for an Assistance Dog for Harry, I don’t think we ever believed it would happen. We know how in demand these special dogs are, and how much training it takes to train them”, said Natasha, Harry’s mum.

Then in 2023, just as Harry was ready to start venturing out more, Assistance Dog Kowhai came into their lives. Kowhai was trained to help Harry manage his condition and to encourage him to listen to his body. She has an extraordinary, calming effect on him and has played a pivotal role in enabling their family to participate in their local community in ways they couldn’t previously.

“Kowhai’s assistance in helping Harry self-manage his condition is beyond what we ever thought possible. If he feels his body starts to fatigue, he will look for Kowhai and sit with her until he has ‘recharged’”, says Natasha.

One of the biggest daily challenges Harry faces is that he’s isolated from other children his age. No 6-year-old boy wants to stop running around or playing, but for Harry, learning his limits is crucial. He’s also more vulnerable to illness than other children, and there are limitations as to what he can do physically.

Kowhai has helped Harry immensely with this. She’s always nearby, helping him to understand his body and providing him with unconditional love and friendship. When Harry needs quiet time, Kowhai will sit and watch him play with his toys for hours, meaning he’s never alone.

Kowhai lets Harry know when he needs to sit down by gently nudging him behind his knees, preventing him from suffering a respiratory arrest. In these instances, she stays with him and performs reassuring ‘deep pressure’ by putting her chin on his legs. This gentle gesture gives Harry the confidence to rest and tune into his body.

Recently, Harry was about to jump off their couch at home (with possibly not enough pillows to break his fall). Just before he jumped, he said “Oh mum, I don’t think I should do this”. When she asked him why, he said “Look at the way Kowhai is looking at me, I don’t think it will be good for my body”.

Another way Kowhai supports Harry is by giving him confidence. Harry often needs to be on his ventilator in public spaces. He knows this is something that makes him different from others, but with Kowhai by his side, he feels comfortable being on his ventilator whenever it’s needed. She has an instant calming effect on him and will go to him whenever he’s upset. Her presence helps to settle his breathing, and she can also retrieve his medicine bag when needed.

Kowhai has enriched the lives of all of Harry’s family members, including his older brother James. Being a sibling of a child with a disability brings its own challenges, but Kowhai is always there, willing to support and comfort whoever needs her.

Over the coming years, Harry’s parents hope Kowhai will continue to provide Harry with the confidence he needs to successfully self-regulate and listen to his body. They also hope that by learning more about his limits, Harry will be able to partake in as many age-appropriate activities as he desires, and live as normal a life as possible.

Natasha says, “Having Kowhai in our lives helps us all stay connected, calm, grounded, and positive. We will be forever grateful to everyone who supported her along her journey.”

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