Resources for the Blind

A Story About Newcastle, His Extraordinary Abilities, And Our Partnership My name is Andrea, and I have lost most of my sight in both eyes due to a rare orphan disease called MOGA type of protein involved in cell adhesion. Present throughout myelin sheaths. AntibodyA protective protein produced by your immune system that attaches to antigens (foreign substances), such as bacteria and toxins, and removes them from your body. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), the body incorrectly produces an antibody that targets myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, a component of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. DiseaseOften referred to as MOGADOften referred to as MOGAD, Anti-MOG, MOG Ab+, MOG Antibody Disease, MOG Associated Antibody Disease, MOG positive disease  , Anti-MOG, MOGA type of protein involved in cell adhesion. Present throughout myelin sheaths. Ab+, MOG Antibody DiseaseOften referred to as MOGAD, Anti-MOG, MOG Ab+, MOG Antibody Disease, MOG Associated Antibody Disease, MOG positive disease  , MOGA type of protein involved in cell adhesion. Present throughout myelin sheaths. Associated AntibodyA protective protein produced by your immune system that attaches to antigens (foreign substances), such as bacteria and toxins, and removes them from your body. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), the body incorrectly produces an antibody that targets myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, a component of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. Disease, MOGA type of protein involved in cell adhesion. Present throughout myelin sheaths. positive disease  . MOGA type of protein involved in cell adhesion. Present throughout myelinAn insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances. This myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells. If myelin is damaged, these impulses slow down. sheaths. stands for MyelinAn insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances. This myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells. If myelin is damaged, these impulses slow down. Oligodendrocyte GlycoproteinA type of protein involved in cell adhesion. Present throughout myelinAn insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances. This myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells. If myelin is damaged, these impulses slow down. sheaths.. It is a neuro-immune disorder that causes inflammationA process of the immune system that involves chemicals released by immune cells (i.e. white blood cells) inducing localized heat, swelling, redness, and pain to an area that occurs when tissue becomes damaged or infected from a pathogenA microorganism that causes, or can cause, disease., and usually results in the desctruction and removal of the pathogenA microorganism that causes, or can cause, disease. and/or healing to the tissue. In the case of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD)Often referred to as MOGAD, Anti-MOG, MOG Ab+, MOG Antibody Disease, MOG Associated Antibody Disease, MOG positive disease  , inflammationA process of the immune system that involves chemicals released by immune cells (i.e. white blood cells) inducing localized heat, swelling, redness, and pain to an area that occurs when tissue becomes damaged or infected from a pathogen, and usually results in the desctruction and removal of the pathogen and/or healing to the tissue. In the case of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), inflammation is the result of the incorrect targeting of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) by the immune system, resulting in damage to myelin sheaths. is the result of the incorrect targeting of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)A type of protein involved in cell adhesion. Present throughout myelin sheaths. by the immune system, resulting in damage to myelinAn insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances. This myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells. If myelin is damaged, these impulses slow down. sheaths. primarily in the optic nervesThe cranial nerves that relay messages from your eyes to your brain to create visual images. These nerves extend from the retina in the back of the eyes to the part of the brain that processes what we see. In myelinAn insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty substances. This myelin sheath allows electrical impulses to transmit quickly and efficiently along the nerve cells. If myelin is damaged, these impulses slow down. oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibodyA protective protein produced by your immune system that attaches to antigens (foreign substances), such as bacteria and toxins, and removes them from your body. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), the body incorrectly produces an antibody that targets myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, a component of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. disease (MOGADOften referred to as MOGAD, Anti-MOG, MOG Ab+, MOG Antibody Disease, MOG Associated Antibody Disease, MOG positive disease  ), they may be the target of inflammationA process of the immune system that involves chemicals released by immune cells (i.e. white blood cells) inducing localized heat, swelling, redness, and pain to an area that occurs when tissue becomes damaged or infected from a pathogen, and usually results in the desctruction and removal of the pathogen and/or healing to the tissue. In the case of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD), inflammation is the result of the incorrect targeting of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) by the immune system, resulting in damage to myelin sheaths. or lesions, sometimes causing visual disruption or blindnessAny alterations in your ability to see normally which may include blurred vision, cloudy vision, double vision, color change, seeing spots in your vision, or loss of vision. Vision changes may occur in one or both eyes. With MOGAD, vision changes are caused by optic neuritis.. but can also affect the spinal cord and brain. I have a guide dog named Newcastle. He helps me maintain some of my independence. I am writing this story to shed some light onInflammation of the optic nerveThe cranial nerves that relay messages from your eyes to your brain to create visual images. These nerves extend from the retina in the back of the eyes to the part of the brain that processes what we see. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), they may be the target of inflammation or lesions, sometimes causing visual disruption or blindness. that may be classified as unilateralRefers to disease or attack on a single side. (affecting one eye) or bilateralRefers to disease or attack on two sides. (affecting both eyes) that may result in vision changes, vision loss, and/or pain with eye movement. what Newcastle does for me daily and would like to provide some background about him, and what it took for him to become the amazing guide dog he is today. Newcastle is a beautiful seven-year-old, 73-pound, male, yellow Labrador Retriever.  His fur has red tones and some white in his face from age. I call him Sugar-Face.  He has gorgeous golden eyes that sparkle when the light catches them.  He has a knot onInflammation of the optic nerveThe cranial nerves that relay messages from your eyes to your brain to create visual images. These nerves extend from the retina in the back of the eyes to the part of the brain that processes what we see. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), they may be the target of inflammation or lesions, sometimes causing visual disruption or blindness. that may be classified as unilateralRefers to disease or attack on a single side. (affecting one eye) or bilateralRefers to disease or attack on two sides. (affecting both eyes) that may result in vision changes, vision loss, and/or pain with eye movement. top of his head that feels like a knuckle. It is called an occiput and protects his skull and brain. Newcastle is so intelligent, and he’s the envy to all of us girls, as he has the perfect hourglass figure. I received him from the Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) campus in San Rafael, California. Newcastle was born onInflammation of the optic nerveThe cranial nerves that relay messages from your eyes to your brain to create visual images. These nerves extend from the retina in the back of the eyes to the part of the brain that processes what we see. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), they may be the target of inflammation or lesions, sometimes causing visual disruption or blindness. that may be classified as unilateralRefers to disease or attack on a single side. (affecting one eye) or bilateralRefers to disease or attack on two sides. (affecting both eyes) that may result in vision changes, vision loss, and/or pain with eye movement. February 13, 2013, and his parents are Parson and Wanda. All of the puppies in his litter have names beginning with the letter N. A committee named him Newcastle after the beer, which is quite delicious. Nancy and Len Joseph are from a beautiful beach community in Laguna Beach, California. They were his puppy raisers and I have grown quite close to Nancy and Len and consider them both family. We visit them every year and call them Grandma and Grandpa.  They belong to the Laguna Beach puppy club. Puppy raisers attend club meetings to learn GDB development and training techniques, as well as the handling of puppies.  It takes approximately three months of training before a new puppy raiser receives their first guide in training. The puppy clubs meet two to four times a month, so it’s a significant time commitment. The raisers also provide food, training, toys, sometimes crates, and a lot of love. Nancy and Len have had eleven prospective guide dogs under their care. Because of the strict standards of GDB, only three of the eleven graduated and were matched with handlers. Azura, Norway, and Newcastle are the three dogs who succeeded in becoming guide dogs. One prospective GDB, Steven, was nipped by another dog and reacted to a dog during his final evaluation.  He is now a therapy dog. Nancy and Steven passed tests to be able to visit Kaiser hospital and assisted living and memory care residences. Steven has been instrumental in training Newcastle and all future guide dogs in the family home. He is a very handsome yellow Labrador Retriever. Azura is a beautiful yellow Lab and is now back living with Nancy and Len after she retired from her job as a guide. Newcastle was ten weeks and three days old when Nancy and Len received him at the San Diego Fun Day onInflammation of the optic nerveThe cranial nerves that relay messages from your eyes to your brain to create visual images. These nerves extend from the retina in the back of the eyes to the part of the brain that processes what we see. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), they may be the target of inflammation or lesions, sometimes causing visual disruption or blindness. that may be classified as unilateralRefers to disease or attack on a single side. (affecting one eye) or bilateralRefers to disease or attack on two sides. (affecting both eyes) that may result in vision changes, vision loss, and/or pain with eye movement. April 28, 2013. Steven joined the family three days later, so they grew up together. They are brothers. Newcastle learned basic commands like sit, down, stay, come, and to “do his business.” That is a professional way of saying to “go potty”. Guide dogs can’t go to the bathroom while working.  They follow a schedule, must only go by command, and only in designated areas. They learn to go onInflammation of the optic nerveThe cranial nerves that relay messages from your eyes to your brain to create visual images. These nerves extend from the retina in the back of the eyes to the part of the brain that processes what we see. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), they may be the target of inflammation or lesions, sometimes causing visual disruption or blindness. that may be classified as unilateralRefers to disease or attack on a single side. (affecting one eye) or bilateralRefers to disease or attack on two sides. (affecting both eyes) that may result in vision changes, vision loss, and/or pain with eye movement. concrete and grass. Handlers receive specific instructions onInflammation of the optic nerveThe cranial nerves that relay messages from your eyes to your brain to create visual images. These nerves extend from the retina in the back of the eyes to the part of the brain that processes what we see. In myelin oligodendrocyte glycoproten antibody disease (MOGAD), they may be the target of inflammation or lesions, sometimes causing visual disruption or blindness. that may be classified as unilateralRefers to disease or attack on a single side. (affecting one eye) or bilateralRefers to disease or attack on two sides. (affecting both eyes) that may result in vision changes, vision loss, and/or pain with eye movement. how to relieve them. Their harness comes off, so they don’t get into the