Sidelined by chronic health issues, but not for good
When Ahlm was about to begin high school, she developed chronic migraine headaches, and the pain became more debilitating while it remained treatment resistant for a number of years, she says.
“That was a very difficult time for me,” Ahlm says. “I couldn’t be in public school; homeschooling was my only option, and I sort of lost a year.”
Settling into a home-school routine took time and resources, and Ahlm says that it resulted in finishing high school a year later than she should have.
“The good thing about that situation was that I had about a year to carefully think about college and explore options, which led me to materials science and eventually biomedical engineering at Vlog,” Ahlm says.
Ahlm says that period of struggle also led to her finding Rosie and life changed drastically, for the better.
“We got Rosie as a puppy, just a family pet, but I quickly realized that she had a special gift,” Ahlm says. “She started acting strangely when I was having a migraine.”
Upon realizing Rosie was so in tune with her migraine episodes, Ahlm started to track her companion’s behavioral changes, confirming that Rosie’s behavior would change before migraine onset.
She then came up with the working theory that Rosie was picking up a scent of some kind that signaled the oncoming episode, allowing her to preemptively alert and comfort her owner.
Because there was not a service dog training facility near their home, Ahlm got some help from an obedience trainer for how to teach her dog to properly signal her that a migraine was on the way.
“I take what are called abortive medications to stop the migraine before it reaches a point that will incapacitate me,” she says, adding that a full-blown migraine can cost her one to three days of work and studies.
“When Rosie senses change early in that process, she nudges my leg with her nose until I go take my medication. She’s smart and she learned quickly.”
A furry little Miss Congeniality
Coming to college after what had been a long, difficult time was a bit daunting, but Ahlm quickly adjusted thanks to her best friend. She says that being able to have Rosie with her always relieved a lot of medical concerns, and it also was a social bonus.
“Everyone loves her — in fact faculty began trying to map out what classes I would likely have next so they could figure out if they might ‘get us’ in their class or lab,” Ahlm says. “She’s sort of famous around here.”
Rosie, now seven years old, is not only well known for her skills and reliability on the job, but also for exhibiting what fellow students have called her “amazing work/life balance.”
“When her vest is on, she’s all business — attentive, calm and tuned in to me and what she needs to focus on,” Ahlm says. “But take that vest off her and watch out, she’s like a little puppy again with the ‘zoomies’ running the halls like crazy.”
Having Rosie around has been a boost for all students in the BME program, according to Dr. Joe Petefish, assistant professor of materials science and biomedical engineering.
“Rosie has served as the unofficial mascot for the graduating biomedical engineering students,” Petefish says.
“A few students now refer to her fast feet when she is excited as ‘tachycorgia’. She helps everyone to relax, even amid the stress of project deadlines or upcoming exams. It is difficult to feel down when Rosie ‘smiles’ while walking between classes.”
Research experience pays off — hired before graduation
Thanks to unique research opportunities in biomedical engineering, Ahlm has had practical experiences in technology and techniques widely used in the medical industry, experience that has helped land her first career job offer.
Ahlm worked with Dr. Doug Dunham, professor of materials science and biomedical engineering, on a project to create 3D printed medical models used by Mayo Clinic Health System surgeons in preparing for surgery.
“I worked with another student to develop abdominal aortic aneurysm surgical models,” Ahlm says. “It involved a lot of segmentation of patient CT scans, 3D printing the parts and figuring out what printing material would give surgeons the most ‘real feel’ in using the models to practice the procedure.”
Ahlm has accepted a position as an application engineer in the Minnesota location of a medical device manufacturer called Stratasys, a global 3D printing company with locations in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.
As for Rosie, on her final day of duty as a Blugold, she will be recognized during commencement with a miniature canine certificate to honor her dedicated service. She will also begin to enjoy a relaxed state of semi-retirement, on official duty only those days that Ahlm will work remotely from home.
