Tajha's Service Dog

The first photo of Tajha and Buddy beside her is after one of her episodes. He helps her in so many ways. The day we got him and she cried happy tears saying "My second half is here! My new beginning." Those were the words from a child and it broke my heart. The above picture is on a good day they shared.
the rest of the time out of school, was to wear a neck brace for several weeks and pain medicine.

                                   Tajha's Story
I once was a regular Mom. I had a regular job. I had normal routines just like all the other moms out there. I would get kids up for school, feed them breakfast, go to work, and at the end of the day, homework, supper, showers and bed. Days off I would be active in my kids school, volunteer at church, take kids to the park, and of course regular appointments for Asthma, sometimes allergies, and eye exams. The simple things I took for granted. I even complained sometimes about all I had to do every once in a while.

Then one day what I thought was going to be a normal day changed for us. It was field day June, 2011. It was a beautiful morning. What could go wrong? I mean I grew up doing field day at school and nothing ever went wrong. So I was going back and fourth from one daughter to the other as they were on opposite sides of the field. Both girls were having a blast. Then I went back to my oldest child who at this time was end of 2nd grade year and most of these kids were rather small. Just as I got there a young man in her class slid coming around the cone almost hitting the pavement to the sidewalk. He had a huge life saver thing much bigger than him across his shoulder. I instantly said this doesn't look safe. So as I began to head up to pull my child here she comes running and half way down she tumbles ( I can't really even say tumble because it was more of a dive) straight down on her head, neck and spine. The best way I can describe it is somebody taking a dive off of a high dive, when their bodies hit the water everything is aligned straight by the time they hit the water. Well only difference with this is it was hard grassy ground. This right here was like the longest minute of my life because seeing that and I wasn't far from her yet I couldn't get to her fast enough. The teacher was reaching her hand out to pick my child up and myself and two other parents who seen the fall were screaming not to move her. As we approach my child we tell her to lay still. I am talking to my child but she had lost slight consciousness because she had thought that morning was over and it was time to go to band practice. As the ambulance came, we transported her to the hospital and after several Xrays we were glad to learn that nothing was broken, so she was written the rest of the time out of school, was to wear a neck brace for several weeks and pain medicine.
I thought that this was the end of it. She would heal and everything would be fine and go back to normal. As months went by I started to notice that her whole life had changed. It started with sleeping, she couldn't sleep. Then came the mood swings. My child was not the same child. This A and A/B Honor Roll student who use to come in from school, be done with homework in 20 minutes and all I did was check it because it was always right, was struggling to understand. Even when I gave her the answer and explained why it was the answer. She was relearning how to add and subtract while other students in her class was learning multiplication. She was depressed as well as had a lot of anxiety. This once "bubbly cheerleader" is what the principle called her, never knew a stranger is now being bullied and picked on because she was different and having trouble. She would raise her hand but quickly forget what she had to say. She simply could not keep up. I also began to notice that I was at school more than I was at work. To my suprise, the school passed her even though she failed her EOGs and sent her to 4th grade against my wishes. In fourth grade she wasn't keeping up and her 504 plan wasn't being followed. They refused her an IEP and also refused her speech therapist into the school to help her as this would have done a lot of good for Tajha. I began to noticed her report cards especially was saying a C and D in math which didn't make since to me because every paper she brought home said 40's, 50's, and 60's. There were paper's where I wrote notes to the teacher saying she didn't understand the homework and it was still blank with only my writing and the erased marks that my child had done and no teacher response. So I held a meeting with the principle and teacher. I asked them to explain the grading system as I laid before them my child's math sheets all from the prior month. The teacher proceeded to tell me that class participation was 60% of the grade. I then said so let me get this straight. A child raises their hand, no matter if they get it right or wrong just the fact they raised their hand they get a good grade. She said yes. I then told her that was not right because every child should understand what they are learning and even more so Tajha given her head injury. That is the only way for me to know she is getting better or not. From there I was fed up and signed up for home school. The day I got my papers I quite my job(thank goodness we were on lay off status) and went and pulled my kids that day. She never again stepped foot into a public school.
The psychiatrist had given her a doctor order for a service dog whom we have named Buddy. He is young yet and still has a lot more training to go through before he can become serviced. However, even without training he has picked up on some things that we are trying to get documented. Buddy has her come to and pet him she becomes very weak and tired as this takes a lot of energy from her. He also helps her balance up the stairs to her bed or couch after these episodes. I have asked the school system for help as these problem have all came from her fall. They claim that she was released from the hospital so she was ok then. This is not true. Yes she was released from hospital...but that day even the principle told me she was sorry because the relay was not properly ran that the life preserver should have been around the children's waist. So needless to say I haven't gotten any help form them. Tajha is now on 13 different medicines and she has 17 doctors. All ranging from the Pediatrician(1-asthma, 1-allergies, 1-migraines, 1-ADHD), GI(4), Neurologist(3), Eyes(1), Speech Therapist(1), Physical Therapist(1), Physiologist(1), Psychiatrist(1), Therapist(1), Sleep (1). I am a single mother and what little bit of income I have is only enough to pay my rent and other bills.Thankfully, I was able to recieve food stamps. All that is left is the much needed training for Buddy and his vet care as well as food. He has a sensitive stomach which I am learning that most German Shepherd's have so his food is not cheap. I am not one much to ask for help but I feel I have no other choice at this point. I never imagined this for my children or myself. But it is the life that was handed to us and I know some good will have to come from all of this. We are fighting for her disability but it's the struggle in between.
For now all I have are prayers and God to cling to. So I am asking and praying for help. Any help anybody can give as every little bit counts even the small change. If you can't afford to help as we understand, at least take a few moments and pray for our family and share her story. And I pray that no parent or child ever goes through the challenges we are faced with today. Because those small things I use to complain about was nothing compared to what I have now. So be thankful for the things you have and if you have children hug them and be thankful for them.

Sincerely,
Ginger Parker
Tajha Parker
Buddy Parker (The Dog)
Kira Miller (Her sister)