The Koch family in Delray Beach, Florida decided to adopt a rescue dog, and it impacted their son’s life in ways they never imagined.
Shane Koch was diagnosed at the age of eight with Tourette Syndrome, a complex illness marked by involuntary and repetitive movements called tics. Nothing worked after his family attempted all of the standard treatments and even sought the advice of a doctor. His tics persisted as he grew older.
He didn’t feel at ease outside of his house. The majority of his classmates made fun of him. When he reacted incorrectly, he would get in trouble. Because of what’s going on at school, his stress level has risen and it aggravated his symptoms.
When his family adopted Callum, a Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, things began to change. Although the dog had never been trained as a service dog, he seemed to sense when Shane’s tics were going to begin. He’d give him a nudge as a warning.
Shane found Callum to be the ideal partner and friend. Callum greatly aided him in better managing his Tourette symptoms. Furthermore, he helped him feel less isolated. Shane’s stress was reduced as a result, and he attributed it all to his loyal canine companion.
Shane made Callum’s TikTok account to show how much the dog had helped him and how much his life had transformed. In addition, he wanted to raise awareness about Tourette Syndrome. He wanted people to understand that being different did not make you a bad person. If more people were aware of his situation, perhaps they would learn to treat people like him with compassion rather than passing judgment.
Callum got a large number of followers in a short period as a result of the positive sentiments Shane and Callum conveyed in their videos. Many others who felt excluded found acceptance, thanks to the duo.
When the Koch family adopted Callum, they believed they had made a difference in his life. However, it turned out that he had a great impact on their lives as well.
Source: callumtheridgy
