Congratulations to all Goethe Challenge Endurance Ride Participants

Saturday was the Goethe Challenge Endurance Ride held in the beautiful Goethe Forest near Ocala, Florida.  There were more than 150 horses participating in this annual event.  Riders competed at 100, 75, 50 and 25 mile distances.

Congratulations to everyone who participated!  As they say, "it takes a village," and a lot of work goes into holding a great ride.  There are the riders, the horses, the vets, the ride managers, the volunteers, the crews, the families, the vendors - and lots more that all come together to make every ride awesome.

Congratulations to Liz Kanan and Amora who took 4th place in the 25.  Congratulations to my own Sierra who was 7th! 

I also enjoyed the company of friends Gayle King (finished 23rd), Caren Stauffer and Kelly Hersey.  Thanks for the companionship, support and the fun.  I'm looking forward to our next ride!

Do you know where your service puppy is?

I am a first time New Horizons Service Dogs puppy raiser.  I recently got “the call” – the one where it is time to return Sienna, the puppy I’ve helped raise since she was eight weeks old.    

So, to paraphrase an old commercial, “It's 10 p.m. Do you know where your service puppy is?”  I ask this question because this is my greatest concern – that somehow I won’t know what becomes of the dog in whom I’ve invested so much time, energy, love and commitment (both financial and emotional). That somehow she will simply disappear from my life, forever.. 

I’ve shared my concern with the leadership at New Horizons Service Dogs.  I’ve been assured that I will know where she is – that I’ll be invited to her graduation, that I will see first-hand her partnership with the person she will serve.  Still, I have the emotions that all puppy raisers must feel – will she be happy, healthy and loved?  Will her partnership be successful?  What will happen if she doesn’t make it successfully through her advanced training? What if, what if, what if…

If you've had a puppy that was part of a prison training program, please share your thoughts about both the successes and challenges you’ve experienced. 

So, I’m posing the question – Do you know where your service puppy is?  I invite answers from service puppy raisers from all service dog organizations.  I invite input from those individuals and families that have service dogs – both those that have active service dogs and those that have had service dogs in the past.  What has your experience been like?  How would you advise me or other potential puppy raisers?  Is the effort worth the potential for heart break? 

My husband will be the first to say, “I told you so – I knew you couldn’t do it.”  I disagree because I became a puppy raiser for the purpose of helping raise a dog that could make a difference in someone else’s life.  I am still committed to that goal.  I want to hear your story, please share.  I invite you to post your story here or to contact me personally at peggyrhoyt@gmail.com.  Your response can be anonymous. I appreciate your candor and your input.   

 

Peggy Hoyt, puppy raiser and animal lover

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Honestly, every day is a blur.  There is more to do than there are hours to get it all accomplished.  I'm sure you probably feel that way too?!  I'm having one of those rare weekends where I really don't have to BE anywhere but home.  Fun - I rode my horse with friends, Caren Stauffer and Lisa Dietrich,  this morning at Orlando Wetlands Park, one of my favorite places.  I came home, watched a movie - The Vow - available on Netflix, made me cry.  I love a good love story. 

Then I made the mistake of getting on my computer.  Next thing you know I'm completely overhauling my blog - like the new design?  Same background photo but new layout and new elements.  I'm pretty surprised I could even figure it out. 

My computer has been sick all week - had to get my friend Cisco Mantanona to fix it.  I think he finally decided the best outcome would be to reformat the hard drive and start over.  So, I've been spending some time re-loading programs and getting everything back in working order. 

Attended the memorial for long time friend Kirk Kirkconnell this week.  What an outstanding person - a great husband, father, grandfather and lawyer.  He was well loved and will certainly be missed.  Losing our friends and loved ones is just another sign of the times - it keeps marching on. 

I really can't believe it's almost October. What happened to August and especially September?  Remember when you were a kid and summer seemed to last forever?  What happened to those days?  I have queried some of my older clients and they confirm that time just keeps going faster and faster.  So, don't think just because you might retire someday and not have to go to work that you will actually have more time to get things done.  It just isn't going to happen.

So, I have lots of goals, plenty of lists, and not enough time.  Make the most of every day - it's the only one you've got. 

What I did on my summer vacation

I feel like I've been absent all summer - so much has been going on.  I never posted about my fabulous trip at the end of May with the Florida Bar General Practice Solo and Small  Firm Section to both London and Paris. I believe the Section may have even posted my diary of this event on their site. 

About forty people participated in the London and Paris program.  We had several super days of CLE with members from the English bar.  The information was interesting and entertaining.  We went to the theater, Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court, had a riverboat ride on the Thames.  There was not a single dull moment and unbelievably the weather was incredible.  It was warm and sunny, despite a forecast that called for cold and rainy.  We made some new friends and can't wait for the opportunity to go back.

June was a blur with nothing special to report except that I must have been at the office because I can't think of where else I might have been.  I have been riding all summer keeping my horse Sierra in shape for the upcoming ride season.

Early July, Joe and I went to Virginia so he could be introduced to our new property.  We finally sold our Tennessee property and bought twenty-one gorgeous acres in Culpepper County, Virginia near Sperryville.  My sister Anne and her husband Dennis live nearby so we will have some friendly neighbors.  We also met some of our closer neighbors and we are looking forward to the opportunity to build our dream home there. 

From Virginia we landed in Silva, North Carolina to spend a few days with law school friends Julie and Ray.  We enjoyed a terrific few days of relaxation and had the chance to go white water rafting on the Nantahala River. The water was sooooo cold our feet were freezing by the end of the raft ride.  Needless to say, despite the high 90's weather, we didn't go swimming.

Barely back from North Carolina, Randy, Sarah and I spent a week at the WealthCounsel symposium in Denver, Colorado.  Unfortunately, we were there when the shootings took place in nearby Aurora at the movie theater.  Teresa, Patty, Kathleen, Randall, Scott and I stayed for the weekend and had a great time exploring Estes Park and visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Well you'd think after that I'd stay home.  Not to be - shortly thereafter I went to Montana and Glacier National Park with my mom and the Florida Bar Elder Law Retreat.  Check back for details on that trip. 

Hope you had a great summer!

Epilepsy Treatment - World Class Facility in Orlando at Florida Hospital

I had the most amazing opportunity yesterday.  Tom Kapusta of the Florida Hospital Foundation invited me to meet with two of the world's leading experts on pediatric epilepsy, Dr. James Baumgartner and Dr. Ki Lee.  You can read more about their cutting edge procedures. 














These two doctors are offering solutions for families who have children with epilepsy.  Epilepsy results from the misfiring of the brain and can result from a number of other disabilities including cerebral palsy and autism.  If you or someone you know has a child with epilepsy - no matter where you are in the world - these doctors have a solution. 

The doctors told me that if you are the parent of a child who has been on two or more epilepsy medications and is still experiencing seizures, they can help.  Many families wait too long believing the technology doesn't exist for a permanent solution.  Drs. Baumgartner and Lee are having a different experience.  They will provide ground breaking medical treatment to 100 patients this year.  Families from all over the world are discovering Florida Hospital's Epilepsy Center and these two outstanding doctors.  The Center is a Level 4 Epilepsy Center - the highest designation a medical facility can receive.  Drs. Baumgartner and Lee are treating more patients than anyone else in the country right now.

I have a special interest in epilepsy for a couple of reasons.  In my law practice as I counsel families about special needs planning.  Many of these families have children who have epilepsy.  These families now, for the first time, have an opportunity for the best medical technology available in the world right here in their own backyard.  Drs. Baumgartner and Lee have been in Orlando for less than one year.  Florida Hospital recently made the commitment to be a leading provider and sought out the best and the brightest.  The other reason I'm interested in epilepsy is my horse Tahoe also suffers from seizures.  When he was seven years old he started experiencing grand mal seizures.  Now obviously he's a horse and not a candidate for the services that Florida Hospital provides but the doctors had some great suggestions for me regarding his treatment.

Thank you to Drs. Baumgartner and Lee for the work they are doing to provide families with a solution for epileptic seizures.  Thanks to Florida Hospital for their commitment to this very important topic.  Additional research and resources are needed in this expanding area of knowledge.  Please don't hesitate to contact the doctors for more information on how your financial commitment can help make a difference for the world.