09/02/2026
“The way that he came up to me, it was like he was saying, ‘I'm paired up with you now.’” That moment was the first glimpse of a bond that would start to grow between Matt and Sparky.
On July 22, 2026, Matt and Sparky were officially matched as a team. There were several dogs who may have been a good fit for Matt, but Sparky was the one who was meant to be his partner. While Matt was signing the paperwork for the match, Sparky would occasionally walk over to check in on him before laying down again. It was a small moment, but one Matt would never forget. Without knowing it, something between them was beginning to take shape.
Now, just a month later, Matt and Sparky have already begun learning how to navigate life together as a team.
Their first outing together as a new team was at a baseball game. Matt, his son, Sparky, Sparky’s trainer Sara, and fellow trainer Tatiane were there for their first training session together. It was a place filled with people, movement, and distractions, the kind of environment that required Matt to constantly scan his surroundings and stay aware of everyone around him.
But during that first training outing, something remarkable happened. Matt found himself shifting his focus away from everyone around him in that section and simply enjoying the game with Sparky and his son by his side.
“He was there and I felt like my window was almost closed. I could tell who was in front of me and behind me, but my focus was actually on the game. I was really surprised how fast I was able to do that and not focus on everything around me.”
Their partnership didn't begin with a grand moment, though. It started quietly, with simple words and Sparky walking over to check on Matt. And now, just a month into their journey, small moments like the one that happened at the baseball game are beginning to show Matt what life with Sparky might look like.
This is truly only the beginning. There is still so much ahead for Matt and Sparky, but for now, they are simply taking it one day, one outing, and one moment at a time. 💜🐾
Project 2 Heal
