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Abby Stricherz sits with her assistance dog, Zaida. The two were paired up and completed training in February.
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Stricherz, 19, was placed with Zaida, a 2-year-old female Labrador/Golden Retriever cross who responds to nearly 50 commands. The pair graduated in February after completing Team Training, a rigorous two-week training session at CCI's North Central Regional Center in Delaware, Ohio.
During training, Stricherz learned all of Zaida's commands and how to properly care for her.
Stricherz graduated from Oldham-Ramona High School in 2008 and recently finished her first semester at DSU.
"It was easy. I didn't get there until February," she said. "Zaida will help me be more independent at college, and will be a great companion that I am responsible for."
Zaida helps Stricherz with everyday activities.
"She pushes the handicap button on the door, picks up things that I drop, turns on lights, and is a companion, which is nice," Stricherz said. "Zaida came to all my classes with me and all the teachers were really good about it, and the students were too."
Stricherz stays in a dormitory at DSU and school officials are good about letting Zaida stay there with her, she said.
Stricherz uses an electric chair in college, "mainly for convenience. It helps me be on time for my classes. I still walk around at home and in the dorms."
At age 10, Stricherz was diagnosed with Friedrich's Ataxia, a hereditary disorder that slowly causes a loss in muscle control. Coupled with that, she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which causes the muscle of one chamber of the heart to thicken.
Stricherz is the daughter of JoAnn Casanova and Jeff Stricherz. Of their three children -- Lee, Abby and Brad -- Lee and Abby both developed Friedrich's Ataxia.
In order for a person to develop Friedrich's Ataxia, Casanova said, both parents have to be carriers of a specific gene, which she and Jeff Stricherz have.
Lee Stricherz was diagnosed with Friedrich's Ataxia in 1999. The first sign was scoliosis, which was treated, but his unsteady walk continued. He was soon tested by a specialist, and eight weeks later was diagnosed with Friedrich's Ataxia.
Abby Stricherz's diagnosis came shortly after that.
"Abby had the same patterns, so we thought we better have her tested," Casanova said. "It came out positive."
Some of the symptoms include scoliosis, unsteady walking, uncoordinated arm movements and slurred speech. Vibration sense, position sense and reflexes also deteriorate.
When comparing one child to the other, Casanova said Abby's Ataxia has progressed earlier than her brother's.
At age 16, one year after diagnosis, Lee had bars surgically placed in his back. Abby had the same surgery at 13.
But, Abby also has a support system when it comes to her brother.
"Lee is such a good influence," Casanova said. "He doesn't let it get him down. That really helps."
Casanova said Lee talks to Abby about how people are going to react. "He shows me you can be normal even though there are things wrong with you," Abby said.
Lee Stricherz is now 20 and is confined to a wheelchair. He is attending Southeast Technical Institute studying marketing and plans to be a professional salesperson. He also works at Home Depot in Sioux Falls.
Although there is no treatment for Friedrich's Ataxia, certain medications can help with some of the symptoms. Most Friedrich's Ataxia develops between the ages of 5 and 15, but some cases have been noted in individuals as old as 60 or 70.
Canine Companions for Independence graduates pay nothing for their dogs, which cost more than $45,000 to breed, train and place. Private charitable contributions, grants and corporate support fund the substantial costs involved with this process. CCI does not receive government funding.
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