Josh and Crissy fans get to pet the pup

The Ghiz family lets people meet the service dog their donations paid for.

By Chris Pagano

Southeast Missourian

One hundred and twenty-five visitors came out to Jackson's South Elementary School cafeteria Saturday morning to meet 9-year-old Josh Ghiz and his family, including Crissy, a 2-year-old service dog.

The Pet the Pup Party was the Ghiz family's way of thanking the many individuals and companies that responded when Josh's need for a service dog became known last fall.

Josh, the son of Alex and Racine Ghiz of Jackson, has one of the most severe cases known of 18 Q-minus syndrome, a genetic defect that has impaired so many of his functions that no one knows what he senses. Crissy has been with Josh since the end of November, helping him interact with the world.

Whitley Evans, a fourth-grade classmate of Josh's, came to the party because she really wanted to see Crissy and because she had a special invitation. Whitley touched the family last fall when she sent a letter with a $1 bill. The letter revealed that Whitley considers Josh her best friend and that she pushes him in his cart at recess and swings with him and talks to him.

Racine had never met Whitley.

On Saturday, she wheeled Josh around while leading Crissy by her leash. Her most recent donation was the $20 she earned from being on the A honor roll at school.

Whitley has a feeling she knows what the dog means to Josh. "My dog sleeps with me every night. She's loving," she said. "I know that's important to Josh."

Her father, Steve Evans, did not know about her friendship with Josh until he read about it in the newspaper. "She's a very loving daughter. She's always been that way," he said. "She'd just as soon be playing with Josh as with her other friends."

Mary Grieshop, a 10-year-old West Lane student, and her family came to see Josh and Crissy after following their story in the newspaper. "I think Crissy's special because she listens real good," she said.

Another visitor, Mikki Gudermuth, director of the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence, said service dogs create more opportunities for disabled children because they are a catalyst for other children and adults to interact with them.

"Service animals take away the fear," she said.

The Ghiz family moved from Utah to Jackson in August. They have three other children: 6-year-old Lily, 3-year-old Ivy and Gwen, born last May.

"Crissy has brought the girls closer to Josh," Racine said. "Until you know how to read Josh's verbal cues and physical movements, you don't know he's communicating with you. The girls used to play around Josh. Now they play with him, they all interact."

Customized commands

Josh satisfies wanting the sensation of feeling with eye pokes and by kicking himself. Through customized commands, Crissy distracts him from these patterned behaviors.

To keep Josh from kicking himself, the "snuggle" command has been changed to "snuggle legs." The dog responds by snuggling against Josh's legs. The kicking stops, and Josh often goes to sleep.

The fund-raising campaign to pay for Crissy's training was sponsored by the Southeast Missourian Jr., Barks Auction Service, church members, friends and community members. The campaign raised $9,781, of which $5,000 was spent for training Crissy. The remainder went toward Josh's other medical bills.

"We never thought the fund raiser would be that successful," Racine said. "I think the biggest thing we want is for everyone to know how much each and every donation meant to us -- from the 50 cents donated by classmates to huge donations from corporations. We've never had a community rally around us like this."

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133