Critically ill woman awaits four-legged allys

It was not until 2005, when the couple's third child, Heather, who was thought to have cerebral palsy, was at a hospital in Boston that doctors discovered Martin-Coleman's true condition.

For some, the disease sets in during adulthood. For others, much sooner.

Heather, nearly 3 at the time, had it too. Her condition had been misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy. Women in Martin-Coleman's family have unknowingly carried the defective gene for generations. Heather died soon after that hospital stay.

The only complete family photograph the Colemans have was taken for a brochure published by the Mitochondrial Disease Action Committee.

The Colemans' 10-year-old son Nicholas also has symptoms of mitochondrial failure, including Asperger's, Tourettes syndrome and several other conditions. Like his mother, he uses a powered chair to go longer distances. Their daughter Kaitlin, 9, carries the gene, but has not shown symptoms.

A personal-care assistant comes to the Coleman home every day to help the family. Paul Coleman left his job as a preschool teacher to work part-time so he could be home more to assist his wife, who experiences weakness, shortness of breath, loss of balance and other symptoms daily.

She cannot drive because of her poor peripheral vision. Doctors implanted tubes in her stomach for daily nutrient doses because her digestive system has trouble absorbing them. On a bad day, she may sleep up to 20 hours.

"Just going from the bedroom to the bathroom is a big deal," she said.

But Martin-Coleman is sick of being unable to work. The answer, she hopes, is Mercury.

Help from a service dog

A nonprofit service dog agency called New England Assistance Dog Services sent a picture of Mercury to the Colemans in June. She will meet him this month at a two-week training session at the Princeton facility, after which, if the two bond, Mercury will come home with her.

NEADS partners with 14 New England prison facilities, where inmates on good behavior are able to train the dogs. The results are quick, said John Moon, major gift officer for the nonprofit agency.

"It's unreal, really," he said. "It has cut training time in half."

On Aug. 28, Martin-Coleman will go with NEADS staff to the North Central Correction Institution in Gardner meet the prisoner who trained Mercury.

It promises to be an emotional moment, for both trainer and potential owner.

"If you've ever seen a grown man cry, it's incredible when these prisoners who have spent a year and a half training these dogs have to give them up," Moon said. "It gives these men and women purpose."

The emotion is not one-sided.

Holding Mercury's picture in her right hand at her kitchen table, Martin-Coleman began to cry. Her

husband was quick to comfort her. But they were hopeful tears. "I'll be able to regain my professional and personal identity," she said. "A year ago I didn't know if I'd be here right now."

Mercury will be able to press elevator buttons, act as a literal support for Martin-Coleman so she

can move around in the house alone and do other tasks that will allow her to return to work. "Right now I'm well enough and strong enough that, with a little help, I can go out into the community and help other people," she said. "I want to do that again."

NEADS has set the Colemans' fundraising goal for the dog at $9,500. It costs the organization

$20,000 to train each dog. The organization, which receives no government funding, will dig into its pockets for those who cannot raise the amount, Moon said, but many clients do succeed.

"I just sent in a check for $200 last week," Paul Coleman said. It's a start. And friends will help. College Church in Northampton will hold a fundraiser Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. with a motorcycle ride,

auction and raffle at Southampton Harley Davidson. Those who wish to donate can do so directly in Martin-Coleman's name at www.neads.org. Any

money raised over the $9,500 benchmark will go to the nonprofit's programs, which train dogs for wounded veterans and children with autism. For information on the fundraiser, contact Bethany at bethany@aux.umass.edu. Donations can also be sent in Paul Coleman's or NEADS name to the church at The Coleman

Fund, C/O College Church, P.O. Box 203, Northampton, MA, 01061-0203. Matt Pilon can be reached at mpilon@gazettenet.com.