A broken marriage, bankruptcy and the hope there’s something positive around the corner are all things Heidi Penning, Hayden’s mother has to overcome.

Heidi’s journey leading up to Hayden receiving Printer hasn’t been an easy one.

Every year Heidi and David Parkhill, Heidi’s husband, have to apply for some sort of funding related to Hayden’s special needs.

On Sept. 9, 2007 Heidi sent the following letter for a funding request to the Pressures & Priorities Committee, here’s an excerpt.

“I provide Hayden with a do-it-yourself ABA program when there was no IBI program in this province. Price tag? $35,000 a year for several years until we lost the family farm, our house and all our belongings to bankruptcy.”

On Nov. 27, 2007, 12-year-old Hayden Kaack was the recipient of Printer the first ever autism service dog in Kingston, Ont.

Printer was given to Hayden through National Service Dogs.

National Service Dogs is a non-profit organization based out Cambridge, Ont.

They provide service dogs to children with autism and special needs.

Printer will serve Hayden in two capacities: friend and protector.

Hayden’s only means of communication with his family is through limited sign language and a picture book.

Hayden’s family consists of his mother (Heidi Penning), stepfather (David Parkhill) and his 10-year-old sister (Olivia).

Not only does this family have one child with autism, but two.

David has a 21-year-old son, Kevin, from a previous marriage who has autism.