Sugartime, Sugartime
by Chris Taylor, editor in chief

    Sugar in the morning; Sugar in the evening; Sugar at suppertime. Whenever needed, Sugar is there.

    Sugar is the companion of Ceci Crombie, who suffers from tonicclonic or grand mal seizures.

    Sugar’s job is to protect her and carry the essentials that Ceci might need in case of a seizure.

    Ceci is very reserved, but obviously cares about Sugar a great deal. She hugs and pets her and talks to her.

    To an outsider, it would be hard to tell that Sugar is more than a pet. Ceci has to keep Sugar on a leash, but Sugar does not lead Ceci, she walks with her.

    Ceci would like to keep coming to TCC “for about two more years.”

    She is currently enrolled in career math, a computer class, independent living skills and career English.

    When Ceci is about to have a seizure, Sugar can usually tell before it is about to happen. Sugar will then start pawing at her to give her advance warning.

    “One day when Sugar and I were at a Christmas parade, she started pawing at me. About an hour later, I had a seizure,” Ceci said.

    Ceci has had to rely on Sugar on other occasions too.

“One day I was outside, and I had a seizure. Sugar stayed by my side until my mom could come and help me,” she said.

    Ceci takes five different medications three times a day to control her seizures.

    Barbara Crombie, Ceci’s mother, explains, “Sugar is there to assist Ceci when she has a seizure. Dogs are able to sense more things than humans, so Sugar can usually tell when Ceci is going to have a seizure before even Ceci knows.”

    Sugar has been a blessing for both mother and daughter. Activities that most people take for granted, Ceci can now do because of Sugar.

    Having Sugar is “a good confidence builder and allows Ceci to be more independent, which is the main goal,” the mother said.
    A 1996 graduate of Grapevine High School, Ceci is in her first semester at TCC.

    In high school, Ceci required a student aide, who accompanied her to classes and stayed by her side in the event of a seizure.

    But when Ceci decided to go to college, that service was no longer available to the extent that Ceci needed.

    Barbara knew they must do something.

    That is when she saw a story in the paper about a woman who had received a dog from the Great Plains Assistance Dog Foundation.

    The foundation, in Jud, N.D., trains dogs as assistants to the physically challenged. The foundation trains mobility dogs, hearing dogs and therapy dogs.

    The process to match Ceci and Sugar was a very detailed one.

    “The foundation has a series of tests to determine the dog most suitable for that person,” she said.

    “We sent in a 15-minute video so the foundation could match a dog with Ceci based on her voice and build,” she said.

    Crombie explained the importance of a close match between dog and person.

    In Ceci’s case, the dog had to be large enough to keep her in a confined space or area during a seizure because when Ceci goes into a seizure, she cannot hear or understand others, Crombie said

    “Sugar is a golden Labrador. Labs are considered ideal service animals because of their life span. They are a well-adjusted, friendly and devoted breed,” she said.

    Barbara and Ceci were on the waiting list for three years. The foundation trains only two dogs per year, but the wait appears worth it.

    “Simple things that many people take for granted weren’t an option for Ceci, but now that she has Sugar, she can do many of those things. Before we had Sugar, Ceci couldn’t even take a walk around the block by herself, but now she has more independence with Sugar along,” she said.

    When Sugar and Ceci are together, Sugar comes prepared to respond and assist Ceci when she’s having a seizure. Sugar carries a backpack holding medical accessories, a cell phone, instructions for paramedics and extra goodies for both Sugar and Ceci.

    When Sugar is wearing her vest, she is working. Barbara explained that Sugar is not really considered a pet but an animal assistant.

    “Sugar does get free time. When she’s not working, the command ‘be free’ allows her to relax and act like a regular dog,” she said.

Sugar accompanies Ceci everywhere from Bass Hall to an ambulance. Ceci can take her into any public access facility.

Most places accept Sugar’s presence. She is trained to stop when Ceci stops, and when in a restaurant, Sugar will immediately go under the table and sit.

Barbara tells of one problem they had in a restaurant, though.

    “The owners were not from this country and probably not familiar with the concept of animal assistants. The problem was resolved without us having to get nasty about it,” she said.

    Sugar’s vest includes a patch that clearly identifies her as a seizure response animal and another that asks people not to pet her while she is working.

    “People should realize they can’t pet or touch Sugar when she is working because it breaks her concentration. It’s like grabbing the steering wheel when someone is driving,” she said.

    Sugar’s concentration should not be broken because a seizure could strike at any moment, and Sugar’s job is to assist Ceci.

    Ceci, even after enduring three brain surgeries, has remained active. Along with attending TCC, she is also interested in reading, cooking, needlepoint and painting.

    She also competes in the Special Olympics. She has competed in track and field, the 200m relay and the four-man 400m relay team.
Recently, she has competed in cycling and won several gold medals in the Special Olympics.

    She qualified second in the state in cycling in her division.

    Ceci says one of her goals is to have Sugar with her in the next cycling competition.

    Ceci’s mother always encourages Ceci to keep trying.

    “I don’t tell her what she can’t do; instead, I tell her to focus on what she can do,” she said.