Jolyon Ellwood-Russell, 53, of Farnham in Surrey, was a distinguished finance lawyer for nearly 30 years, working and living in Hong Kong, when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Although the cancer was successfully treated, he developed paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration, a rare condition affecting less than one percent of cancer patients. This occurs when the immune system releases antibodies to destroy the tumour, but the antibodies accidentally damage healthy cells, attacking the cerebellum—the part of the brain controlling movement, balance, cognitive and speech skills.
Rapid Decline and Loss of Mobility
“I lost the ability to walk within a week,” said Jolyon, a father of three. “It was very rapid and there was a slow decline for a period of time.” Prior to his illness four years ago, Jolyon was a keen golfer and played squash and tennis. Now he enjoys disabled sailing with Sailability, with Odin waiting on the jetty. Odin was even on stage when Jolyon collected an award in the sport last year.
Odin's Training as a Disability Assistance Dog
The family got Odin, an Australian Labradoodle, as a puppy. They soon knew he was capable of achieving great feats. “We’d had this breed before so we knew what they were like,” said Jen, 46, a corporate lawyer who gave up her career to care for her husband. “We got Odin at the end of Jolyon’s cancer treatment, and the kids had moved school. Having him was a distraction for the family. He’s a great family dog and was a very active puppy. The vet said ‘he needs a job’. As he is clever and intelligent, we had it in the back of our minds that he could be an assistance dog. Once he matured, we researched a number of charities and Support Dogs matched what we were looking for—we were looking at our pet dog, who is very much part of our family, being an assistance dog; a dual role.”
Graduation as a Support Dogs Partnership
Odin was trained by the Yorkshire-based charity Support Dogs to open and close doors, pick up items Jolyon drops, help him undress, push access buttons to lifts and doors, and fetch help. The pair recently graduated as a successful Support Dogs partnership. “It’s fantastic to have graduated as a Support Dogs partnership. It gives us both reassurance that extra help is there,” said Jolyon. Jen added: “That Odin is able to help Jolyon is extra peace of mind.”
About Support Dogs
Support Dogs trains and provides specialist assistance dogs to help autistic children, as well as those living with epilepsy or a physical disability to live safer, more independent lives. It receives no government funding and relies entirely on voluntary donations. To find out more about the incredible work of Support Dogs, please visit www.supportdogs.org.uk or call 0114 2617800.
