MDA Ambassador Guest Blog: Life Lessons from My Service Dog (and Best Friend)

Lyza Weisman (23) was diagnosed at 13 months old with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). She was raised in the deep mountains of Colorado before attending Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles for her undergraduate degree. Lyza graduated in May 2024 and moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, where she is now a second-year student at William & Mary Law School. She loves going to concerts, traveling, skiing, and scuba diving.

Lyza and Jewel at graduation.

Jewel has been by my side since eighth grade. Now, as a law student, she has journeyed with me through over ten years of school. She has been on family vacations, flown on many airplanes, gone on every adventure, joined me through my doctor’s appointments—no matter what life brought me she was there. She has also been with me through every stage of my education -from cross-country trips, and choir rehearsals to college tours, campus events, and job interviews -Jewel has been a constant, loving presence. She even has a literal high school diploma that she earned beside me when I graduated. She is more than my service dog,she is my heart, my best friend, my companion, and my champion.  I would not trade her for the world.

Jewel is specially trained to assist me with everyday tasks. She effortlessly retrieves items from the ground, anything from a coin, to a credit card, or my phone. She opens and closes doors, turns lights on and off, and even goes to get help when needed. She stands beside me for light stability and, somehow, always knows when I need her.

Jewel comforting Lyza during a hospital stay.

One of the most remarkable things about Jewel is her ability to sense my pain. Without ever having been taught, she instinctively knows where I hurt and will lay by my side to provide comfort.  She has even figured out how to place her body against mine or put her head on my foot in a way that relieves a significant portion of the chronic pain that I constantly suffer from. Every night, she rests next to me, offering relief in ways I cannot explain.

Socially, she has helped me find connections and confidence, making it easier to step out into the world.  She has a unique ability to dissolve questioning glances and stares. When people see Jewel, they see her—not my disability. That shift in perception is just one of the many gifts she has given me. She is the ice breaker I never knew I needed. Before her, I was never one to go out in the community often or talk very much. But with everyone coming up to me because of her, I was able to grow out of my shadow. Now, as she gets older, I am the one bringing her out into the crowd. We are both along for the ride together and complement each other every step of the way.

Jewel’s warm, social nature has brought me out of my shell. She is the first one to hop onto my hospital bed when I am not feeling well and the last to leave my side when the world feels too heavy. If I am sick, she rests and recovers with me. If I am in a happy party mood, she joins me in the mosh pit at a concert. She knows when it is time for me to look up from my desk after a long day at work or if I am lost in my phone, she reminds me it is time for cuddles by pawing my phone out of my hands. She reminds me to look up from life’s many tasks and challenges and all the craziness they bring. She is peace with four legs and carries my whole heart.

Her support is unwavering. The encouragement and love she gives are unmatched. She has taught me that I can take care of someone else—whether brushing her fur, filling her water bowl, or preparing her food. These small tasks might seem ordinary to others, but to me, they represent independence, growth, and purpose.

Lyza cuddling with Jewel .

She understands what I am going through in a way no one else can. Having her with me helps me see my abilities in a new light. Even when I am alone, when no one else is there, she is. She has gotten me through nights when a caregiver did not show up, and days when my pain was overwhelming. She knows when to curl up with me, or if it’s time to pull me outside. Her presence is a quiet reassurance that I am never truly alone.

Service dogs are a profound gift. Anyone fortunate enough to have their own service dog knows what it is like to have your best friend with you all the time. They are very well-trained dogs and are allowed to go everywhere for a reason. They help with the daily tasks in life, and they help carry the burden of what it takes to fight and live with a disability. That said, they are more than helpers – they are best friends, healers, and motivators. Jewel has shaped me into who I am today. She has taught me how to love, how to be social, and how to see the dog instead of the disability. And that, perhaps, is the greatest lesson of all – not just for me, but for the world.