For This Duke Doctor, Help Has Four Paws

Multiple sclerosis had quietly narrowed Nick Said's world, but his service dog, Tomate, is giving him renewed confidence, independence and joy

Tomate a service dog sits next to Nicholas Said in a hospital room
Tomate became Nick Said's service dog earlier this year, helping the radiologist navigate life with multiple sclerosis. Photo by Travis Stanley

About a year ago, Camilla Said made a pitch for a family dog. Camilla, now 12, dreams of becoming a lawyer and presented a compelling case with strong evidence.

Camilla reasoned that her younger siblings, Juliette, now 6, and Elias, 3, could have a furry playmate. And that a dog would teach all of them about responsibility.

And maybe, Camilla suggested to her father, Dr. Nick Said, the dog could help him, too.

Nick, a Radiologist at Duke University Hospital, wasn’t so sure. Nick learned 20 years ago that he has multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system that progressively has been limiting his mobility, particularly on his right side. 

A family stands in front of the Roman Coliseum
Kristen, Nick, Elias, Camilla and Juliette Said were considering a family dog when they discovered Eyes, Ears, Nose and Paws. Photo courtesy of Nick Said

It isn’t unusual for Nick, 48, to stumble on uneven ground, occasionally falling. He sometimes drops objects and has difficulty bending down to pick them up. About four years ago, he stopped performing radiology procedures because of his decreasing balance and hand dexterity.

When Camilla remained persistent that a family dog could help her father, he agreed to investigate how a service dog might assist him. Through online searches, Nick and Camilla soon discovered Eyes, Ears, Nose and Paws, a Hillsborough nonprofit organization that trains and provides service dogs for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

“She is the most persuasive person ever,” said Dr. Kristen Said, co-director of Duke Employee Occupational Health and Wellness, and Nick’s wife and Camilla’s mother.

Nick talked with the organization’s leadership, sat in on information sessions, met puppies in training and was so impressed by it all that he applied to be matched with a dog.

And on March 7, Nick and a Labrador retriever named Tomate graduated from E.E.N.P., with the Saids gaining a beloved family pooch and Nick receiving the cutest, fuzzy sidekick.

“It’s been pretty amazing,” he said.

How Tomate Helps

Nick uses a cane to assist his walking through the hallways of Duke University Hospital, his right leg often needing more support to keep it steady. Now, he also has Tomate (pronounced TOH-mah-tay) at his side. Nick can grip Tomate’s harness and use the sturdy, 76-pound Lab as what his trainer called “a movable piece of furniture” who braces Nick when he needs extra stability.

Three Labrador retrievers train at a service dog organization.
Tomate, center, trains with other dogs from his litter at E.E.N.P. Photo courtesy of Frank Bruni

“I walk so much better,” Nick said. “He’ll just kind of pace me and if I feel kind of off-balance, I just pull back on him and he’s strong enough that he can resist it, providing counterbalance.”

Now, if Nick drops something, Tomate picks it up and brings it to him. Tomate can easily press a handicap-accessible button with his paws or nose to open a door. He can even take Nick's security badge and scan him in whenever it's challenging for Nick to do so himself. And when it’s time for Nick to give a presentation or talk with someone in his office, Tomate immediately lies down nearby. If he’s offered peanut butter, he’ll do it even faster.

“Peanut butter is definitely his favorite treat,” said Nick’s wife, Kristen.

The vest Tomate wears to signify he is a service dog and shouldn’t be offered pets while he’s working is sometimes difficult for co-workers to ignore.

“For some people it is hard,” Nick admitted.

An ‘Adorable Accommodation’

Nick receives infusions every six months to slow the progression of MS, but his condition is expected to decline over time. If that happens, Tomate is ready.

a Labrador retriever looks up at Nick Said in a hospital room
Tomate and Nick Said share a bond after just a few months together. Photo by Travis Stanley

“The big thing that was attractive to me is the dog is adaptable,” he said. “Meaning, let's say I end up in a wheelchair or something like that, the dog can adapt to my changing needs.

“It’s like having a medical device or medical help that can adapt to you.”

At Tomate’s E.E.N.P. graduation ceremony, Nick told the story of how Tomate already has helped to enrich his life. Soon after the pup joined the Said family, Kristen and the kids worked to set up an outdoor ninja gym in their backyard. Normally, Nick would watch as everyone else mapped the course over uneven ground, rocks and leaves.

“I don’t always trust my legs and that can quietly shrink your world – your confidence, your independence, even your willingness to join your family in simple things,” he said in his graduation speech as Tomate became the 100th dog from E.E.N.P. to be placed with a family since 2008. “But this time, I called Tomate to my side for stability and suddenly I could be part of it.”

And when Tomate is done with his work of helping, he immediately becomes a goofy, rambunctious family pet for the three kids who love to watch cartoons and run around in the backyard with him.

“My work happens to be in this work,” Kristen said of her position with Employee Occupational Health and Wellness, “so it’s really amazing to see that at home, too – that you don’t have to let your disabilities limit you. There can be accommodations.

“And Tomate is a really adorable accommodation.”

Has a workplace accommodation helped you thrive at Duke? Share your story and inspire others to discover the support available at Duke.

Follow Working@Duke on X (Twitter), Facebook and Instagram and subscribe on YouTube.