Seventeen-year-old Ciaran has a twin brother named Shay. Both boys live with cerebral palsy, but “Ciaran has had a tougher journey,” his mom explains. The first days of his life were nearly his last. Brain swelling limited the function on the left side of his body and led to significant vision and hearing loss, along with a diagnosis of epilepsy and autism later on in his life. His first 4 months were spent in the NICU and Neonatal Nursery and since then, the medical appointments, therapy, and caregiving support haven’t stopped.
“Ciaran is a smart, kind, and witty teen”, his mom describes. “Yet when people first meet him, they make assumptions about his intelligence. He takes time to process new faces and places. But given time to warm up and process information, you learn very quickly that he pays close attention to everything!”
Ciaran and Shay have grown up side by side, but for the first time in their lives, they’re about to take very different paths. Shay is preparing to leave for university this fall while Ciaran returns to high school until he turns 21. “It has been a lot for his brain to process,” says his mom. “He is struggling knowing that he and Shay are temporarily going their separate ways. It brings a lot of anxiety and frustration.”
That’s why the arrival of Ciaran’s Shine Dream, a service dog he named Llew, couldn’t have come at a better time.
Llew is more than a distraction. He is Ciaran’s new purpose and is a new ‘constant’ in his life. This specially trained dog supports Ciaran’s safety, reduces anxiety, teaches him skills, and helps him navigate the world more independently. “It’s my dog,” Ciaran proudly emphasizes, “He’s my BFF.”
Ciaran works hard to give back. He volunteers weekly at a food bank and community garden, participates in job readiness training, goes bowling and swimming, and cheers for Manchester United with his dad every Sunday. Like his three brothers, he’s grown up with the family value of participating in meaningful activities within the community to build confidence, autonomy, and life skills.
He dreams of having a job and being like everyone else, but many doors remain closed without additional support. That’s where Llew comes in - not just as a service dog, but an enabler of Ciaran’s independence and connection to others. “Anywhere Ciaran goes, Llew will go too. He’ll spark conversations, create routine, and build confidence. There are so many levels to his Dream, it’s truly life-changing,” his mom shares.
“What I want for Ciaran, is that he leads a happy, very meaningful, purposeful life. I want him doing something every day that he feels proud of, that he has the reciprocity for what he’s doing in his life, and that he is making a difference in his own little way. People just need to give him a chance,” his mom adds.
Thank you for helping Ciaran’s Dream come true. You didn’t just give him a dog. You became part of the community that supports him. You gave him confidence, connection, and the chance to step forward into a future that feels like his own.
