The Cameron and Brandi story
Cameron has been using a wheelchair since an accident 10 years ago. When lying in Talbot South Spinal Unit in Melbourne with a C-6 fracture and spinal cord damage he was watching the Today Show.
A segment was shown on the Assistance Dogs Australia program. Cameron has compared his excitement to that of reading the Celestine Prophecy.
This was his chance to complete a dream that he thought he would never be able to fulfill.
Since this time, Cameron has followed the program through three years of development and finally applied for an Assistance Dog.
Cameron was placed on the waiting list and could not wait to jump on the first plane to Sydney to complete the two-week Team Training course.
Cameron's dream finally came true with him flying to Sydney to meet his Assistance Dog Golden Retriever Brandi , the bond was instant. The two passed through the team training and public access test with flying colours.
Cameron returned to Melbourne with a new found friend. Brandi is able to sit, wait, open a door, pick up his dropped mobile phone from the ground and place it back on his lap, speak on command and he is even working on getting Brandi to retrieve a beer from the fridge for him.
Since returning home Brandi has been constantly by Cameron's side. Cameron said, "She has been to shopping centres, restaurants, sporting events, work and on weekend social occasions. She has been a real motivator, companion and a great help."
