Marybeth Bland was diagnosed with MS when she was 31. In 2004 she applied for an assistance dog. It cost about $18,000 and took 2 years to raise and train Nickel.

Nickel has made such a difference in Marybeth's life that she has written a children's book about "Nickel the Service Dog", and travels to schools giving talks on service dogs and what they can do for people with disabilities.