Carolyn Wing Greenlee
Foreword by Sarah Findley, puppy raiser mom
When my daughter Heather was nine years old she begged my husband, Eric, and me to let her raise a Guide Dog puppy. At the time we assured her that it was nothing like the responsibilities that come with owning a pet; it would be a huge commitment, not to mention you don’t get to keep the puppy. We told her to wait until she was a teenager and then maybe we would talk about it. Truthfully we had hoped she’d forget or just decide she wasn’t interested in undertaking such a monumental task. But literally the day she turned thirteen, Heather knew she was going to raise a dog. The adorable eight week-old puppy that was placed in Heather’s arms was a little black Lab named Hedy.
As we were out and about with Hedy we were asked many questions. “Why can’t she play fetch?” “Why can’t she eat people food?” “Why does she have to learn to stay in a crate?” But the most frequently asked question was, “How can you give her up?” My answer back would be, “How can I not?” We always knew she was someone else’s dog.
Although we became attached to Hedy, when it came time to let her go, we were all able to do so rather nobly. We knew she was going back to these people who loved the dogs more than we could ever imagine. She was going to be trained further in the life that she was destined for to live out her purpose. We were only a short stage in that calling. We were placing her back into the arms of the ones who placed that tiny pup in our arms eighteen months earlier. But we were curious. What was Hedy doing each day? How was she doing? We hoped she wasn’t playing keep away from diligent guide dog instructors or sniffing uncontrollably the ways she did when she lived at our house. We thought, Boy it would be nice to be a fly on the wall to see and experience all that Hedy was going through and learning. It would be great to meet everyone she was meeting…
When Carolyn asked me to read Steady Hedy, little did I realize I’d get that very special privilege. I’m meeting Pat Kelly who was assigned to train Hedy—who got to know her silly quirks and behaviors and loved her just the same, just like us. I got to meet the staff of GDB and how they each interacted with Hedy and how meaningful each one became in Carolyn’s life. I got to meet each of the other blind handlers and their dogs. Carolyn kept me captivated as I was seeing through her eyes what Hedy was experiencing. I knew where Hedy was sleeping, who was caring for her, the outings she went on.
We may have given Carolyn a gift in Hedy, but Steady Hedy is a gift to all of us to see behind the scenes into the world of Guide Dogs for the Blind and to learn more about the blind community. It’s exhilarating.
In the story you’re about to read you’ll find inspiration and hope, unlikely friendships and community, purpose and fulfillment. Carolyn tells the journey that brings her to a place of incredible growth both spiritually and emotionally. It’s not only the story of her getting to know the guide who will be a long-time companion, it’s also a journey of how she comes to terms with the way she was raised and parallels the lessons Hedy learns to her own life. You’ll applaud Carolyn’s courage as she takes a step to broaden her life and draws out a strength and resolve that she never realized existed within her, becoming who God has created her to be. Read and be inspired as she reaches out to take hold of a new lifestyle with a guide dog and finds that with Hedy she can walk confidently and steadily into the bright future that has already opened ahead of her.
Earthen Vessel Productions
Book & Music Publishing
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