Her Future Looks So Bright – Francesca & Brittney

“Tears rolled down my cheeks... big happy tears...as I watched my seven year old darling girl walking on the beach, giggling with delight as she felt the sand between her toes and the sea wash over her feet for the first time in her life.” 

These are the words expressing a mother’s joy as she watched her little girl, Francesca on holiday this summer. Why was this moment so special?
 
Francesca Lachman was born and raised in Italy. Until eighteen months ago when the family returned to Australia she had never walked a step without the help of another person. She was born with a condition known as Septo-Optic Dysplasia which caused her to be blind from birth and that also limited the development and strength of her arms and legs.
 
Without support what sort of life was Francesca able to look forward to?
 
The family quickly realised that they should seek special help. That is where Guide Dogs Victoria came in, providing the assistance she hadn’t had yet received, giving her the confidence and skills to walk independently around her school and home.
 

But more was to come... as part of preparing Francesca to eventually have a Guide Dog, we gave her Brittney, an adorable Yellow Labrador Retriever in our Pets as Therapy program... The pair bonded beautifully and besides being schooled to protect Francesca from certain dangers, Brittney has brought enormous pleasure to the Lachman family.

“In the space of just 12 months Francesca has found her independence. And this is only the beginning... Guide Dogs are so professional and caring... she is so happy and now her future looks so bright.”