Heartwarming Story - Chairs for Charlie - Man has Problems Walking His Dogs Because of Leukemia - Neighbors Place Chairs in Their Yards for Him to Rest Along the Way

Houston, Texas - In the 800 block of Azalea in the Garden Oaks neighborhood, you'll often spot two Yorkies, a cat and a neighbor who everyone seems to know.

"He's a pretty laid back guy, very friendly," Mark Klein said.

"From day one he has been an amazing neighbor and he is an amazing neighbor," Tina Sabuco said.

Charlie George moved into the neighborhood more than a decade ago. He often strolls the street with his two dogs and cat.

"I try to walk the dogs every morning and every evening," Charlie said.

But lately his neighbors have noticed he is having a hard time during his walks, a set back due to leukemia. Charlie was diagnosed three years ago.

"So we thought it would be nice if there were chairs for him to rest along the way," Sabuco said.

Sabuco helped effort "Chairs for Charlie." There are now lawn chairs in front of more than a dozen homes, with a sign that reads, "Chairs for Charlie. Or for others in need of a rest."

"Ours is a very cozy chair and it rocks a little bit, so if he ever wants a rocking experience, he can sit in our chair," Georgia Lister said.

The chairs come in all shapes, sizes and colors. The chair in Klein's front lawn is blue.

"Well that's his favorite color, so we got a blue chair for Charlie," Klein said.

Charlie found the chairs during one of his walks this week, after returning from the hospital.

"It made it real for me that people really care about me and they're looking out for me," Charlie said.

They're also looking out for his wife, Sandra, who often accompanies him on the walks. One front lawn has two yellow chairs, one for Charlie and one for Sandra.

"It's incredible, the support," Sandra said. "I think it's really important when you're going through something like this that you feel the love."

It's a street full of good neighbors, giving Charlie the strength to keep going.

"I intend to walk to the end, God willing," Charlie said.

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Service Dogs Help Children with Epilepsy, Autism and Other Disabilities

When Alyssa Howes was 4-years-old, she lost her sight and started having seizures. Her grandmother stayed in the girl's room at night, monitoring her for attacks. That ended three years ago when Alyssa got a service dog named Flint.

When the golden retriever moved in, life changed for Alyssa's Los Angeles-area family. He gives the 11-year-old a more normal life by alerting her family to seizures, guiding her so she doesn't fall and allowing her to have a bit more freedom.

"It gives her a companion to enjoy the moments when she is doing things she likes to do," said her mother, Juliette Palomaki. "And if she is having a bad day, she will call him and they will just be together."

But not enough dogs are being trained for children with epilepsy, autism and other disabilities, said Karen Shirk, founder of 4 Paws for Ability, a nonprofit that breeds and trains service dogs. Other agencies train dogs specifically to help people with seizures, but Ohio-based 4 Paws is one of just a few that does not exclude young children.

Most require a minor to be 16 so they can handle the dog alone in public. Because a younger child cannot do that, 4 Paws trains at least two adult caregivers, such as parents, teachers and baby-sitters.

Service dogs allow children to feel comfortable at the park, school and restaurants. In Alyssa's case, it means no one has to stand guard at night in case of seizures.

"Once we got Flint, she said she wanted to start sleeping on her own with him," Palomaki said.

Animal behaviorist Brandon McMillan, the star of "Lucky Dog" on CBS, says it's very easy for a child with disabilities to become a recluse.

"Life shouldn't be so complicated at 5," said McMillan, a spokesman for Magnolia Paws for Compassion, which raises awareness that kids can get service dogs. 

"Take a child who has a condition. Give them a dog. The dog opens up a world for this child. It's important for a child's life."

Seizure dogs are costly — taking 4 Paws $22,000 to breed and train, with each family asked to raise $15,000 — but they can alert their companions to seizures before they strike.

Scientists say pooches smell a chemical change when a person is about to seize — they just don't agree how dogs do it, Shirk said. At her training center, dogs learn to bark to signal a seizure so an adult can give the child medicine.

For Shirk, who has a service dog, Piper, to help her with her muscular dystrophy, getting that warning allows her to take medicine that keeps her breathing.

"Messages don't get through from the brain to the muscles," Shirk said of a seizure. "Without Piper, I barely have time to call 911 before everything shuts down."

In Alyssa's case, if Flint detects a seizure, he will lick her, become very attentive, lie on her and bark, the girl's mother said.

"When we hear him bark, we know something is up because he doesn't bark for any other reason," Palomaki said.

Alyssa also has leukemia that's in remission and lacks full use of her right hand. Doctors won't give a prognosis because they "don't want to put expectations or limitations on her," Palomaki said.

"She walks, talks and can read the whole Braille alphabet with one good hand. She's a true joy, and they are a dynamic duo," Palomaki said.

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