Bonnie Dodge of Northampton credits her dog with providing her with a quality of life that simply did not exist prior to meeting Patience.

At first glance, Patience, a Shih Tzu, might appear to be a simple, run-of-the-mill dog, but the dog's worth and purpose extends far wider than first impressions convey.

"Patience plays a very large and important role in my life," said Dodge. "I was in bed 18 to 20 hours per day because of the deterioration I experienced in my 29-year battle with MS (multiple sclerosis) for about two years before I met Patience."

Dodge said Patience lived with a number families, was left in a dog pound and later abandoned in a home before Dodge found her. Although she and her husband never owned a dog, she immediately sensed a connection with Patience.

"She was so loving and wanted so much to be loved that it was a perfect match from that moment on," said Dodge. "We sensed something very special in each other."

Patience, Dodge added, has been a valuable tool in allowing her to do the everyday activities she once was unable to do on her own.

"She now helps me walk, can tell when I am going to have seizures which result from medications I had to take and has saved my life when I fell and couldn't get up in the middle of a public street," she said. "Patience senses when I'm having a bad day and sticks to me like glue. When I'm doing well, we take long walks, sometimes as long as two hours with a rest about halfway."

In addition to Patience, Dodge credits her faith in God for allowing her to cope with her illness and get the most out of life.

Dodge said Patience is well known in Northampton. She provides the people she meets with a sense of encouragement, hope and joy.

"When she sees someone in a wheelchair, I ask her if she wants to visit with them," Dodge said. "She gives me that wide-eyed look, I ask if they would like to hold Patience, and Patience the service dog becomes Patience the therapy dog. It's a wonderful feeling to see the smile which brightens the face of a man or lady who thought this was just another day with its typical problems. Patience changes today into a special one for that person, for me, and for herself. It's all about love."

For those suffering with a chronic disease, such as Chrone's disease, MS, lupus, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease or cystic fibrosis, Dodge recommends learning to manage their daily lives and not overexert.

"People with chronic life-changing diseases, first, have to plan to use their energy levels wisely," she said. "Many times energy levels change from day to day, and some days are just harder because the energy levels are lower. Resting, lowering expectations, reading instead of doing something more strenuous or considering the energy required and the energy available are key factors to not exhausting the body beyond normal repair."