A Different Way of Seeing. Helping You Make Sense of the Overwhelm
The first person I ever met who was on dialysis was a woman named Carol. I was lying in a hospital bed recovering from the AV graft operation. Carol had struck up a conversation with Craig while I was being admitted, so knew a little of my situation. When I returned to the ward after …
I’ve been writing this series of articles for some time now, taking you through the various stages that have led up to my starting dialysis. In many ways we’ve come so far already. At least, it feels that way to me. However, in today’s article we finally reach the point where I start having dialysis. …
Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the eyes of a remarkable guide dog! We’re thrilled to announce the pre-sale launch of the South African print run of Paws for Thought: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of a Guide Dog, a heartwarming and insightful memoir told from the perspective of Fiji, Lois’s …
I am frequently placed in situations where I have to explain the work that I do. More than that, I have to explain why I feel my work is important and relevant to those who choose to engage with it. I thought it might be interesting to share some information on that topic here in …
For some people it may seem a peculiar concept – a book written by a dog. I mean, how can a dog write a book? Do they type using their paws or their noses? And since when do dogs learn how to spell? For other people, mostly people who have a close bond with their …
To pick up the story where I ended last week, I had just received positive feedback from my vascular surgeon at the follow-up appointment after my operation. However, that’s not the end of the story, and I need to go back a few weeks to explain. After my operation on 15 January 2025, I’d been …
Amongst my favourite additions to the second edition of Pause for Thought: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of a Guide Dog were transcriptions of two interviews I conducted with people involved with the South African Guide Dog Association for the Blind. I wanted to give readers an overview of how guide dogs are raised …
I left off describing my dialysis journey late last year, at the point where I had consulted a renal dietitian and adjusted my diet and had also written about the various options for dialysis that I was researching. I have a lot more to share with you now. Late last year I met with a …
Extract from Paws for Thought (second edition): “I remember telling you that I had favourite toys when I was a young puppy, back when I lived with Mom Jenny and Dad Mike. I had hours of fun playing with my fluffy sheep and running around with my tennis ball in my mouth. I still have …
Alt text: The cover of the book Paws for Thought (second edition) by Lois Strachan, written in blue on a cream background. The focus of the image is the head of a yellow Labrador who is wearing a guide dog harness. I am so excited to tell you that the second edition of my guide …