In December of 2019, I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). This is a type of autonomic nervous system disorder that affects the way my body reacts to changes in position and exertion. Doctors don't know what causes POTS, so treatment plans are focused on lessening patients' symptoms. The symptoms of POTS vary from patient to patient, but the most common are orthostatic intolerance and tachycardia, hence the name. For me, I have episodes of syncope (fainting) and near-syncope multiple times a week. I also get tired quickly; use a wheelchair to avoid fainting when walking; and have digestive problems, chronic migraines, and exercise intolerance. Since my diagnosis, I have lost most of my mobility, and I need help with  day-to-day tasks.  In order to gain back my independence, I have decided to train my own mobility support dog. After lots of research, I found a rescue puppy to adopt who is the right size and has the temperament to potentially become a Service Dog. His name is Arrow, and he is going to be my POTS pup! I am incredibly excited by the opportunity to grow alongside Arrow. To give us the best chance possible to become a qualified Service Dog and Handler team, I am going to enroll myself and Arrow in college! We are going to attend a Service Dog training school that helps owners train their own Service Dogs. This is understandably expensive, as Service Dogs require extensive training. The full cost is just under $4500, but any amount will help. In addition, I will be donating half of the final donations to the rescue group that I adopted Arrow from to help them continue their amazing work, which is especially important right now during the Covid-19 pandemic.  For more information on POTS, Mobility Service Dogs, and the Service Dog training school, please see the links below: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16560-postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots
http://www.servicedogsforamerica.org/about-us/service-dogs/mobility-assistance-dogs/
https://collegeforpets.com/service-dog-training/