CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — By all accounts, the early indications of life for young Valentina Marines were good.
“As a baby, she was striking all of her turning points. Everything was normal,” Valentina’s mom, Sonia said.
But at 2-years-old, Sonia started seeing a modification in her lovely brown eyed child.
“She utilized to be able to state specific things and after that stopped stating those things,” said Sonia.
Valentina was ultimately detected with echolalia, indicating she just interacted by duplicating words of individuals she understood. According to her mom, Valentina’s echolalia puts her in the middle of the autism spectrum.
Valentina has actually gone through many treatments to learn how to express herself.
“It’s actually simply discovering methods to help her to adjust,” Sonia said.
One of those methods was to enable Valentina to take in brand-new experiences, like a possibility invite to a school picnic a couple of years back.
Though they didn’t understand it at the time, that picnic affected a now 9-year-old Valentina in such an extensive method due to the fact that a couple of four-legged visitors were likewise welcomed.
“I was not anticipating the response she needed to these treatment dogs,” said Sonia.
It was actually just one treatment dog in specific that captured Valentina’s attention that day: Lexxa.
“That was it. It was an immediate bond,” Nellena McCabe, Lexxa’s handler said.
Nelena remembered Valentina come in for the most significant hug for Lexxa, and right after, Nellena observed tears in Sonia’s eyes.
“I searched for and I informed her (Sonia) it’s alright. She’s not injuring Lexxa. She can hug her as much as she desires,” Nellena said. “And that’s when Sonia said to me, ‘No you do not comprehend. That’s the very first complete sentence my child has actually ever spoken.'”
When her mom attempted to make her child leave so Lexxa might check out other kids, Valentina retreated and said “No! I desire Lexxa, I enjoy Lexxa.”
After 9 years of ages, Valentina had actually lastly spoken her very first sentence in her own words.
After that satisfying the pandemic hit, and while autism and any other life-altering conditions didn’t take a break from COVID-19, Valentina and Lexxa did – up until in 2015.
Sonia discovered Lexxa’s business card. She gotten in touch with Nellena to welcome Lexxa to Valentina’s 12th birthday. It ended up being an event for 2. Valentina kept in mind that she and Lexxa shared the very same birthday month.
Nellena was gladly shocked about the image Valentina asked for her birthday cake.
“They actually pulled among Lexxa’s images off of her Facebook and put it on her cake,” Nellena said.
Since that day, Valentina and Lexxa have actually been inseparable.
KRIS 6 News questioned if medical science was likewise at play here.
“When I discovered the households that I have actually dealt with that have actually explained this connection, it’s a convenience because, specifically dogs, I believe … feeling safeguarded or having them best close by,” Dr. Elisabeth Sheridan, Director, Clinical Care Drexel University said. She has actually operated in the field of autism for twenty years.
However, Dr. Sheridan competes that while numerous kids like Valentina are drawn to treatment dogs like Lexxa, others are not. She said there’s extremely little research study on the topic, so beware which there’s no “one size fits all.”
“I believe it’s actually essential to analyze what resources you have and what’s significant to your family,” Sheridan said. “So I would not state if you’re viewing this you said I’ve gotta get a dog for my kid tomorrow. I state talk with the specialists that understand you … your kid the very best … and believe … does this make good sense right not for me or not.”
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