Jaxon's Service Dog
Donation protected
Jaxon is smart, loving, and athletic. He's adventurous, imaginative, and creative. He has a contagious giggle and a smile that warms your heart. But something is hindering him from having the happy, healthy life a normal ten year old should have...
Jaxon has severe anxiety. When he has an episode, it manifests as rage. Often he injures himself and throws or tries to break other things. Rarely, he hurts others, usually when they are trying to help him through it. Back in January, he was hospitalized for a week because he tried to cut his wrists with glass from a broken window during an episode. During that hospitalization, we (me, his dad, and therapist) agreed that in the event of other episodes, he will be restrained on his stomach on the ground with one or both hands behind his back (this is due to his grown-up size and strength) until he calms down. Usually, it works within 30-45 minutes and we can go back to normal.
Recently we had a very public episode. Jaxon had an extreme anxiety attack over the size of his ice cream cone. This is not a kid who was acting out because he wanted something he was told he couldn't have. This is a child whose body and brain doesn't know how to react to situations where his heart rate rises. He has little to no control over himself when this happens. In fact, he's recorded in the past that he blacks out in a rage episode. Many witnessed him run down the street in the pouring rain, take his cleats off and hit himself in the head with them, yelling he wants to die or wants to kill himself, biting his arms, banging his head against the ground, cursing and screaming at strangers and even friends, and finally me having to restrain him in public. An ambulance was called for his safety. It took four men to get him on the stretcher and strap him down. Once at the hospital, he had to be medicated to control his agitation.
No ten year old should have to live with this debilitating mental illness. It is now really affecting his quality of life, his ability to make and maintain friendships, even to be in school for a full day. Jaxon is now experiencing depression due to his anxiety and each day we are witnessing things getting more and more difficult for him.
We would like to give him a better life by getting him a psychiatric service dog. The dog will be able to sense when his anxiety is heightening and intervene before it gets debilitating by comforting or distracting him or removing him from the situation. The dog will also be able to alert mom or dad if his condition worsens and/or he tries to hurt himself. A loving, loyal service dog will help him stay calm, make friendship, and just help him get through life in a more effective way.
Please help us raise the funds we need to give him this chance at a better life.
Jaxon has severe anxiety. When he has an episode, it manifests as rage. Often he injures himself and throws or tries to break other things. Rarely, he hurts others, usually when they are trying to help him through it. Back in January, he was hospitalized for a week because he tried to cut his wrists with glass from a broken window during an episode. During that hospitalization, we (me, his dad, and therapist) agreed that in the event of other episodes, he will be restrained on his stomach on the ground with one or both hands behind his back (this is due to his grown-up size and strength) until he calms down. Usually, it works within 30-45 minutes and we can go back to normal.
Recently we had a very public episode. Jaxon had an extreme anxiety attack over the size of his ice cream cone. This is not a kid who was acting out because he wanted something he was told he couldn't have. This is a child whose body and brain doesn't know how to react to situations where his heart rate rises. He has little to no control over himself when this happens. In fact, he's recorded in the past that he blacks out in a rage episode. Many witnessed him run down the street in the pouring rain, take his cleats off and hit himself in the head with them, yelling he wants to die or wants to kill himself, biting his arms, banging his head against the ground, cursing and screaming at strangers and even friends, and finally me having to restrain him in public. An ambulance was called for his safety. It took four men to get him on the stretcher and strap him down. Once at the hospital, he had to be medicated to control his agitation.
No ten year old should have to live with this debilitating mental illness. It is now really affecting his quality of life, his ability to make and maintain friendships, even to be in school for a full day. Jaxon is now experiencing depression due to his anxiety and each day we are witnessing things getting more and more difficult for him.
We would like to give him a better life by getting him a psychiatric service dog. The dog will be able to sense when his anxiety is heightening and intervene before it gets debilitating by comforting or distracting him or removing him from the situation. The dog will also be able to alert mom or dad if his condition worsens and/or he tries to hurt himself. A loving, loyal service dog will help him stay calm, make friendship, and just help him get through life in a more effective way.
Please help us raise the funds we need to give him this chance at a better life.
Organizer
Taylor Eames
Organizer
Six Lakes, MI
