Book description
Heartwarming, inspirational and genuinely touching, Finding Harmony is
the remarkable true story of an extraordinary dog that rescued a woman
from the depths of depression and transformed a family for ever.
A keen mountaineer, Sally Hyder was in her prime and loving life. She
shared her passion for climbing with her partner Andrew and it was a
dream come true when Andrew proposed at Everest Base Camp. For them,
climbing mountains made anything seem possible and represented their
attitude to life.
But a year after Sally and Andrew were married Sally was diagnosed with
Multiple Sclerosis. She was only 28 and was training to be a Macmillan
nurse - she wanted to care for the terminally ill. But Sally was
determined the disease wouldn't slow her down: she went back to work
looking after others and, despite warnings that her condition could
deteriorate in pregnancy, went on to have three beautiful children.
But it was when her youngest child Melissa was diagnosed with severe
autism that Sally began to spiral into depression. Sally felt guilty
about the pressures faced by her elder daughter Clara in her role as
carer. Sally worried that she was missing out on the freedom of childhood.
She needed help. Unsure who to turn to, she happened upon Canine
Partners and an extraordinary dog called Harmony. They formed an instant
bond; Harmony can perform over 100 chores - from putting groceries into
the trolley to handing over Sally's purse at the till. Harmony is an
unending source of comfort: she intuitively knows when Sally is in pain
and calms Melissa when she suffers panic attacks.
Harmony has given Sally the ability to start living once more, and
become a mother again in her own way. She has shown Sally that the sky's
the limit and, with a taste for independence that she hadn't felt since
her mountaineering days, Sally's sights are set on the peaks of Ben
Nevis once more.
In August 2010 Sally planned to climb the hardest of the Munro
Mountains. Sadly her attempt was thwarted after her motorised wheelchair
short-circuited. But Sally is a fighter and is training for her second
attempt, which she will complete with her husband by her side. And
Harmony too, of course. 'Pet books are all the rage just now - but
there are fewer more re-bark-able tales than this one.' **** News of the
World Sally Hyder was only 28 years old when she was diagnosed with
Multiple Sclerosis. She was a keen mountaineer and had been training to
be a Macmillan nurse to care for the terminally ill. Now confined to a
wheelchair, Sally has help with everyday tasks from her Canine Partner,
Harmony, who has enabled Sally to lead an independent life. Sally lives
in Edinburgh with her husband, Andrew, her three children and Harmony.
