Colleen Ashby, a 41-year-old Perth woman, lost her sight after complications during a heart transplant in 2017, but her seeing eye dogs have given her the freedom to rebuild her life. As the Petbarn Foundation launches its 13th annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal this July, aiming to raise more than $1.2 million, Ms Ashby's story highlights the transformative power of these animals.
A Life-Changing Complication
When Ms Ashby woke from a four-day induced coma after her heart transplant, she immediately noticed something was wrong. "I said, 'I can't see'," she recalled. Initially, medical staff attributed it to the effects of prolonged sedation and medication, but the cause was more severe: a lack of oxygen and insufficient blood flow to the optic nerve. Her eyes remain healthy, but the optic nerve damage left her with no central vision, no sight in her left eye, and only about 5 per cent peripheral vision in her right. "I can sort of see bright colours and shapes," she explained. "I have no depth perception, so falling over and tripping is a common thing."
Determination to Move Forward
Despite the devastating diagnosis, Ms Ashby refused to let blindness define her life. "People actually say, 'Oh, it must have been really scary and you must have been really upset about it', but I've always been an eternal optimist," she said. "I believe everything happens for a reason. I didn't want my two sons' lives or my husband's life to change because of me losing my sight, so I just made it my determination to get up and get myself on the ball rolling as quick as I could into moving forward."
The Journey to a Seeing Eye Dog
Within months, Vision Australia suggested applying for a seeing eye dog, but Ms Ashby first needed to become proficient with a cane. In 2018, she was matched with Xian, a former Customs dog retrained as a guide dog. Initially hesitant about the responsibility, her doubts vanished upon meeting Xian at the Kensington training centre. "As soon as they introduced me to Jan, it was just like we had been in a previous life together," she said. "We just matched up." After more than six years together, Xian retired and was replaced by Inca, though Xian remains with Ms Ashby as a beloved family pet.
Freedom and Independence
Ms Ashby emphasized the profound difference between using a cane and a seeing eye dog. "When you're using a cane, it doesn't guide you. You still need a support person with you," she said. "But with the dog it just gives you this sense of freedom and independence. They guide you, you can actually go out by yourself to places. They will take you to things where a cane can't. They just give you this beautiful sense of freedom and owning your own power with them."
Return to Sport and International Success
This newfound confidence enabled Ms Ashby to return to competitive swimming, take up tandem cycling, and represent Australia at the 2023 World Transplant Games in Perth, where she won gold, silver, and bronze medals in swimming. Xian helped her navigate the international event. "When we were in the Parade of Nations ... she gave me the great sense of, like, 'I can do this', and I felt secure with her," she said. "It was really good."
Inspiring Others
Ms Ashby hopes her story inspires others facing sudden life changes. "I think for anybody that has had some major sudden change in circumstances in their life, most people think that it's terrible and it's the worst thing that's happened to them, and you know, there's no life beyond that point, but generally when you look back, you see that the changes that have occurred and the direction that's changed for you is much better than what it was before," she said. "I'm actually very grateful now for losing my sight because it's opened up so many more doorways that I wouldn't have had."
Petbarn Foundation Appeal
The Petbarn Foundation's Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, running throughout July, aims to raise over $1.2 million to train 24 seeing eye dogs. Each dog takes up to two years to raise and train, costing more than $50,000. Petbarn Foundation national manager Janelle Miller said, "Every seeing eye dog changes someone's life — they help Australians who are blind or have low vision live with greater confidence, independence and connection to their community. Our annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal is about helping train the next generation of life-changing seeing eye dogs." Since the appeal launched in 2014, it has raised more than $10 million, funding the training of 209 dogs across Australia.
How to Help
Vision Australia national manager seeing eye dogs Nicola Cotton urged Australians to donate. "We are asking Australians to give what they can this July, because every donation helps change someone's life," she said. "Importantly, 100 per cent of donations go directly towards training future seeing eye dogs, helping more Australians who are blind or have low vision experience the confidence, independence and companionship these incredible dogs provide." Ms Ashby has also written two books: I Can See Clearly Now and Ya Gotta Laugh!
