Hailie and TJ

by Tracy "Bobo" Banks

     Until recently, my dog, T.J. and my 8-year-old autistic great niece Hailie were best friends. Hailie was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Although, the world often sees her as different, she doesn’t realize that she even has a disability. By the grace of God, she’s overcome much in such a short time.

    Hailie’s speech and occupational therapists are wonderful with her and have truly been a godsend. Hailie also attends Equestrian Therapy, which has helped her to be more disciplined and focused. She loves riding horses. The truth is, Hailie loves all animals, especially my dog, TJ.

     I’ve kept Hailie many times over the past few years and have taken her to her therapy appointments. Hailie, like other autistic children, cannot always say what she wants or needs. She becomes irritable and frustrated sometimes without any warning. At first, I would try to calm her down when she acted in this manner. I quickly learned, however, that didn’t work. Hailie just wanted to be left alone. She needed her own space. When she was ready and only then, she would calm down and resume her routine

     Before long, I noticed Hailie following my dog around the house. TJ was part Dachsund and part Poodle, with a long body and short soft hair. Hailie would giggle at the very sight of her. She’d chase her every chance she’d get just to pet her. I wasn’t quite sure if T.J. liked all the attention, but it wasn’t long until T.J. started chasing Hailie. 

     “T.J, here T.J.” Hailie would say.

      Hailie always had a treat for TJ that she often took straight from the dog food bowl. They played together better than most kids and at naptime, T.J. always made sure she was right beside Hailie.

     T.J. got sick the first part of this year. After many trips to the veterinarian, it was obvious that she wasn’t getting any better. In August of this year T.J. passed away.

I was heart broken from losing my pet of thirteen years, but I was more concerned about Hailie and how she would react when she realized that T.J. was gone.

     I wasn’t sure if Hailie would understand that T.J. was gone.  I searched through my pictures and found one of T.J. in the backyard standing under the American Flag.  I enlarged it and then put another picture that I cropped of her at the top of that picture. It looked as if she was standing in the clouds. I framed it and then put it on a table in my living room for Hailie to see on her next visit to my house.

     When she came through the door, it only took a few moments to spot T.J.’s picture. She stood there staring, and then reached towards the top of the picture of T.J. in the sky. When she touched it, she started giggling.

      A few minutes passed when I noticed Hailie was back at T.J.’s picture, touching it and giggling again.

     She looked over at me, smiled and then said, “T.J., Heaven.”

I smiled back at Hailie, while trying hard to hold back my tears. I realized God had the situation under control the moment my autistic niece spoke. Out of the mouth of babes would definitely be an understatement. 

     Two weeks later, I brought a new puppy home. He seemed to be a little frightened of people and his new environment at first. Well, that is, until Hailie walked through the door. She sat on the floor and reached out to the puppy. Within moments, she was holding and petting her new best friend, Tito, my 4-month old Schnoodle.