Main fundraiser photo

A DOG 4 RAJA


                                                                                                 Raja’s Story

(Raja dictated this story to her maternal grandmother, who typed and edited this story -in the the third person- on Raja's behalf.   Please read her story with an open heart and with empathy.)

Raja is a 23-year old college student who was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) – a rare, inherited eye disease that eventually leads to blindness. However, in Raja’s case, she was declared legally blind during her early teen years.  Although Raja was strong academically, she was constantly challenged physically and emotionally.  One such time was when she fell to the middle school gym floor, where she sat unable to feel or move her legs.  She was unable to walk for four (4) months and had to be home-schooled.  

Then imagine having to catch a train to school and stumbling into traffic along the path.  Motorists beep their horns to hurry you along.  Finally, after arriving at the station, flustered because of riders pushing to enter the train, you find there are no handicapped seats available since the able-body passengers have taken them all.  Imagine that!

Another such time was when Raja was in college and tumbled down a set of concrete stairs while crossing the Quad on her way to lunch. Her fall caused a mild concussion and Raja missed classes for several weeks.  Even though the family was afraid for her safety going to an out-of-state college with no family close by, Raja wouldn’t allow her disability to prevent her from staying at-James Madison University (JMU) in Virginia where she could study her chosen major of Writing, Rhetoric, Technology & Communications (WRTC).

There were times when Raja wanted to give up, especially in the fall of 2016 when she began experiencing severe pain in her eyes.  Her vision was rapidly deteriorating, and the pain was the increased pressure on her eyes. The stress of her failing eyes and her inability to complete her assignments put Raja in a depressed state and she began struggling constantly with anxiety attacks over the 2017 fall school year.  She was diagnosed with Clinical Depression and Anxiety. 

Since she was at JMU under a scholarship and her grades were falling, her scholarship was in jeopardy and she couldn’t register for the next semester. Raja fell into a deeper depression and went into a mental crisis. She could not get up alone and knew she needed professional help and therefore sought help in the fall of 2018. As part of her therapy she was matched temporarily with a Service Animal. The counselor felt it was a better alternative for Raja, given her added physical disability.  It was very successful.

Can you imagine being three (3) semesters from graduating and not being able to finish?  Raja refused to quit.  She continued to receive out-patient counseling and group therapy.  Also, since Raja couldn’t register for classes, she volunteered with a bus-load of JMU students to participate in the New Orleans St. Bernard Project. They were finishing a house in the Lower 9th Ward, located a few feet from the broken levees.

Ultimately, a family member was able to cover the back tuition and Raja went back to classes and finished the Fall semester, coming home for the winter break. Raja was very excited about the possibility of taking control of her life again until she learned of the cost to permanently pair her with a Service Animal -$20,000 minimum.

Can you imagine the many struggles this young lady has endured and will continue to endure?  Can you imagine not having the ability to change your own narrative to complete your goals because of funding?  Even with the planned fundraisers, Raja’s family will not be able to afford a dog in time for the Fall Semester this year.  However, can YOU image having the ability to help change the narrative for this young lady?  You can change her life, not only with prayers but through any small donation to help her to get the Service Animal she needs. To DONATE, please refer to this site: 
https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-dog-for-raja   To see the prior fundraising event(s), go to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/400278540554299/
Stay turned also to FACEBOOK ---> PAGE or EVENTS for---> "A Service Dog 4 RAJA" for future events and fundraisers.  We also ask that you please share this information with friends, family and contacts.

Thank you for reading Raja’s Story and Peace & Blessings to All!

Organizer

Frances A-Badee
Organizer
Moorestown, NJ

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