Entry #1
Evaluation Weekend at MIRA USA
We met Eric St. Pierre in North Carolina in April 2014 during Melanie’s evaluation to determine if she qualified for a guide dog and sponsorship through MIRA USA. We had already heard about Eric and the incredible work he was doing with the MIRA Foundation. When a MIRA USA team member introduced us, I was immediately struck by Eric’s calm, laid-back demeanor, paired with a strong presence and a charming blend of English and French Canadian accents.
After a brief introduction, Eric turned to Melanie and said, “Hello Melanie! Show me how you walk with your white cane,” before taking her for a short walk. “Parents, stay behind and wait here,” he instructed. When they returned, he looked at Melanie and said she would need to work very hard if she wanted a service dog. She’d first need to master walking with her white cane before beginning any dog training. Melanie listened, smiled, and simply said, “Ok!”
The next morning, we met Eric along with the rest of the staff and families for the evaluation. It was a beautiful, sunny day. As part of the assessment, each child was asked to walk a few meters with a service dog. Melanie stood quietly with her cane, holding it nervously by her side as she waited for her turn. She was the last of the three children to be evaluated.
When it was finally her turn, Eric gently explained how to hold the harness with her left hand and encouraged her to follow the sound of his voice during the walk. In that moment, we witnessed a remarkable transformation. The nervous, hesitant girl who had relied on her white cane stood taller, faced forward, and confidently gripped the harness handle. With the service dog at her side, Melanie walked with purpose—calm, steady, and sure, as though she'd done it countless times before.
For the first time since losing her sight five months earlier, she walked with confidence—and with a smile on her face. Eric, who had been walking a few steps behind her, beamed with pride and told her she had done fantastically. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. It was the beginning of something truly wonderful.
In memory of Melanie’s upcoming birthday on May 4th, Unidos por Melanie will, be doing a fundraiser for The MIRA foundation in honor of Eric St. Pierre. Eric passed away peacefully on February 21 of this year. He leaves behind a big void in his community as well as a legacy that has helped hundreds of blind children and children with developmental delays. Eric was a visionary, founder of the MIRA foundation and Melanie’s guide dog instructor and coach. Each week I will share anecdotes of Melanie’s journey as she attended MIRA in Montreal and how Eric’s guidance and patience help her to achieve her goal and bring Baza, her guide dog, home. I hope you can join me as I reminisce on Mel’s journey, Eric’s incredible work and the MIRA foundation. All donations are 100% for the MIRA foundation.