Stephanie and Chester.
Having an assist dog has given independence to Stephanie Thurlow, something she has wanted since she was 20. Before labradoodle Chester came into her life, she found that her epilepsy was standing in the way of the life she wanted to lead, particularly being able to go flatting.
Stephanie was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 4 and would have a seizure once a week in a good week to three times a night every night in a bad week.
While she tried not to let her illness get in the way, it did make life harder as she was unable to get a driver’s licence and had trouble getting full-time employment. Since having Chester she has done courses, gone flatting and now has a job.
