Bailey's Service Dog

At 10 years, old I tripped playing tag in my backyard. Right away I knew something was very wrong. After seeing doctor after doctor, I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). CRPS is a rare and progressive neurological disorder. Essentially, my nervous system works like a broken car alarm.  At one time, I had someone trying to break in but the intruder is long gone and the alarm wont turn off. I have severe chronic pain, sensitivity to temperature changes, swelling, colour changes, paralysis, allodynia, brittle bones, as well as fatigue. McGill university named CRPS as the most painful human condition above amputation and childbirth. Unfortunately there is no cure or treatment for CRPS but I refuse to be at the mercy of this disease.




At the time of my diagnosis in 2007, I was unable to walk. After 6 1/2 months of Physical Therapy 6 days a week I learnt to walk. I got back to doing what I love. Sailing, hiking, and any sort of outdoor activity. While I have yet to have a pain free moment I was very high functioning.

After a small relapse in 2010 I was well until spring of 2011 where I had a major relapse. This means that I could not walk and my allodynia was so severe I could not open windows as the wind made my pain skyrocket. I was not able to go to school or go outside but I found Joy. I invited friends over once a week, I watched sailing videos and made sure to find the good in each day because my spirit is something this disease can never take from me. While I fought to get my independence back, I never got back to where I longed to be. I still have a left side drop foot and wear an AFO for that. Walking is still hard and while I now walk full time (yay) there are still times when I cannot walk independently. I cannot walk up or down hills, on snowy or sandy conditions, When I get cold, or when my legs get tired. In those moments, I am completely dependent on others and effectively get stuck and cannot move.




One summer day 3 years ago I was determined to go hiking. For a girl who still could not walk very well or long this wasn’t the greatest idea. But my stubborn nature decided that I wasn't going to let anything stop me from this. So I set off with my family and we took our families standard poodle with us. To all of our surprise, I was able to keep up without stumbling. Despite my dog not being a service dog, she was able to help me with counter balance and momentum pull even before I knew what those tasks were. Ever since that day, I have seen how a service dog could fill the gap in my abilities. I want to be independent. I want to be able to walk where ever I want whenever I want. I want that PNW life but I need your help.





Service dogs are expensive and I am a university student. I need to raise $20,000 for the full cost of the training of the dog. However, my top priority right now is to raise $5,000 for the initial training fee so the dog can start to be trained for me. 

Having a service dog would mean independence and the ability to live out my dreams just as everyone else. My disability and illness has not limited the goals. I believe I can achieve everything I want in this life I just have to go about it differently. 

So if you have read this far, congratulations. If you have donated, Thank You. If you are unable to donate I would appreciate prayers about this as well as shares across social media. please use the hashtags  #BaileyWalksHumbly.