The Caption to This Photo Touched Thousands of People All Around the World

by pawbuzz on in Dogs 130

This photograph was posted online by Shanna Niehaus, the mother of five-year-old Kainoa. The caption for it touched thousands of people all around the world to the bottom of their hearts.

© Love What Matters

“See this moment? I’ve never experienced a moment like this. Yesterday was the first day my 5-year-old autistic son met his new Autism Service Dog, Tornado. We are Americans that live overseas in Japan and have prepared for nearly two years to meet Tornado.

This picture captures the face of a mother who saw her child, who she can’t hug, wash, dress, snuggle, and touch, freely lay on his new service dog of his own free will, with a purposeful, unspoken attachment. This is the face of a mom who has seen her son experience countless failed social interactions on the playground in an attempt to have a friend. Any friend. Any kind of connection. She has sat with her son while he has cried at night for months because he has no consistent connections outside of the family, no matter how hard he tries and no matter what he works hard on in his autism therapies. It doesn’t transfer to the natural occurring world for him. And now she is sitting behind her son silently watching this moment, with the air sucked from her lungs, and no words to say.

It’s worth every fight for services for my son, every diagnosis, every new provider, every dollar spent, every paper filled out, every school meeting, every shed tear, every step forward, every step back, and every wonder of the unknown future. Somehow because of this — because of Tornado — I know everything will be okay. As a mother, I have seen countless challenging and painful moments my son has encountered and cried countless more. Yesterday, however, I cried for a different reason. It is a feeling that is indescribable.”

S. Niehaus

It’s difficult to imagine what a mother feels when she can’t even hug her own son without risking him having a panic attack. Children with autism find it extremely difficult to establish a connection with those around them. This is why dogs are sometimes specially trained to help them. They can calm a child down when they have a panic attack, look after them, and notify their parents that help is needed. Because dogs behave differently to people, autistic children often find it easier to socialize with them.

Autism is not an illness; it’s a unique form of development. It can’t be “cured” with medicine. But dogs can help the people who experience it overcome some of their difficulties. Their care, devotion, playfulness, and warmth can do so much to help autistic children establish connections with the world around them.

Preview photo credit Love What Matters
Based on materials from Love What Matters



130 thoughts on “The Caption to This Photo Touched Thousands of People All Around the World”

  4. Robert Tomasso

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    Mi Amore’ Marcella’s Golden Peyton whom I Love was trained not to lick sometimes I miss kisses could walk him without a leash he Loves me too wish they weren’t so far away

  23. Steph O'Grady

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    Beautiful dogs! Ours has to have a gentle leader – they are strong dogs and even the best trained ones can pull a person over especially if a person is unsteady on their feet. Just helps.

  24. Cheri Hodge

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    Made me cry too for such happiness for this beautiful mom and her young baby boy.dogs are such a blessing in our lives ❤️❤️ I hope your family has many many more days like this one in the picture. God bless you

  44. Teresa Garvey Rowe

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    Amazing; Thank God for these wonderful animals who can reach autistic children when no one else is able to. This must have been a wonderful moment for this Mom & her son. Bravo Tornado!! You rock❤️

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