A blind man and his guide dog show the power of trust and courage in the midst of devastating terror. It was 12:30 a.m. on 9/11 and Roselle whimpered at Michael's bedside. A thunderstorm was headed east, and she could sense the distant rumbles while her owners slept. As a trained guide dog, when she was "on the clock" nothing could faze her. But that morning, without her harness, she was free to be scared, and she nudged Michael's hand with her wet nose as it draped over the bedside toward the floor. She needed him to wake ...
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A blind man and his guide dog show the power of trust and courage in the midst of devastating terror. It was 12:30 a.m. on 9/11 and Roselle whimpered at Michael's bedside. A thunderstorm was headed east, and she could sense the distant rumbles while her owners slept. As a trained guide dog, when she was "on the clock" nothing could faze her. But that morning, without her harness, she was free to be scared, and she nudged Michael's hand with her wet nose as it draped over the bedside toward the floor. She needed him to wake up. With a busy day of meetings and an important presentation ahead, Michael slumped out of bed, headed to his home office, and started chipping away at his daunting workload. Roselle, shivering, took her normal spot at his feet and rode out the storm while he typed. By all indications it was going to be a normal day. A busy day, but normal nonetheless. Until they went into the office. In "Thunder Dog," follow Michael and his guide dog, Roselle, as their lives are changed forever by two explosions and 1,463 stairs. When the first plane struck Tower One, an enormous boom, frightening sounds, and muffled voices swept through Michael's office while shards of glass and burning scraps of paper fell outside the windows. But in this harrowing story of trust and courage, discover how blindness and a bond between dog and man saved lives and brought hope during one of America's darkest days.
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Add this copy of Thunder Dog: the True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide to cart. $5.05, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Thorndike Press.
Add this copy of Thunder Dog: the True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide to cart. $44.82, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Hialeah, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2011 by Thorndike Press.
A friend gifted me with a copy of Thunder Dog, and I am so appreciative. With a family member who is visually impaired, legally blind, I found this book to be a great encouragement regarding the quality of life blind people currently enjoy, although Michael Hingson does make a case for continued work on social integration into society at large. This book focuses on what blind people are capable of doing, achieving and enjoying rather than on their limitations. This outlook is supported by the inclusion of Kenneth Jernigan's Blindness: A Left-Handed Dissertation in which he draws parallels between blindness and left-handedness in their impact on daily living in society.
Author, Michael Hingson, became blind after over exposure to oxygen following a premature birth. Unlike many in 1950, Michael's parents chose to raise him at home rather than placing him in a residential center. Michael was always encouraged to do as much as he could, and to say that he was fearless is an understatement. He has continued throughout his life to test his limits, to assist the blind community with accommodations and encouragement. Michael's work and accomplishments may have been enough to bring him national attention, but he was rocketed there when he and his guide dog, Roselle, were among the survivors of the attacks on the World Trade Center, something that provided him with a platform for advocating for the blind community.
Even if the reader does not have a personal connection to someone with visual impairment or blindness, this memoir is one that will amaze and encourage everyone, and I would highly recommend it. I extend my gratitude to MaryAnne R. for gifting me with this thoroughly enjoyable read.
