<div>On April 6, 2022, our family learned how quickly life can change.
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<div>Our 5 1/2 year old child, Wesley, was sitting in the car outside his pediatrician’s office when he suddenly had a seizure. His lips turned blue, he began making strange sounds, and within moments we were watching paramedics rush our him away in an ambulance. We were terrified and completely unprepared for the journey that was about to begin.
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<div>At first, we hoped it was a one-time event.
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<div>It wasn’t.
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<div>Over the last four years, epilepsy has become part of nearly every aspect of Wesley’s life. What started with a single seizure has led to countless EEGs, MRIs, VEEGs, hospital admissions, emergency room visits, ambulance rides, medication changes, specialist appointments, and sleepless nights spent watching monitors and listening for sounds from his bedroom.
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<div>Many of Wesley’s seizures happen while he is asleep. While most families can tuck their children into bed and rest knowing morning will come, epilepsy has taken away that certainty for us. Nights are often spent reviewing recordings, checking alarms, responding to seizure activity, and wondering what the next day will bring. Even when we sleep, we never truly stop listening. Epilepsy doesn’t just affect the moments when a seizure happens, it affects every moment in between.
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<div>Wesley has tried medication after medication. Some didn’t work. Some caused difficult side effects. Despite everything, seizures continued.
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<div>In February 2026, Wesley underwent brain surgery to have an RNS (Responsive Neurostimulation) device implanted. Watching your child being wheeled into brain surgery is something no parent is ever prepared for. At just nine years old, while other children were worrying about school projects, Minecraft worlds, and playing with friends, Wesley was facing brain surgery in the hope of gaining better control over his seizures. We placed our trust in a team of doctors and held onto hope that this would bring us closer to answers and better seizure control.
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<div>Through all of this, Wesley has shown a strength that amazes us every day. He continues to go to school, play with friends, make people laugh, and face challenges that most adults would struggle to carry. He has endured more tests, procedures, needles, medications, and hospital stays than many people experience in a lifetime, yet he continues to meet the world with courage.
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<div>Today, we have the opportunity to give Wesley another layer of safety, support, and independence through a seizure response service dog.
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<div>These specially trained dogs can learn to recognize the scent changes associated with their handler’s seizures. The dog would be trained to alert our family when Wesley is having a seizure at home, notify school staff if he has a seizure at school, remain with him during his postictal recovery period when he is confused and vulnerable, and provide mobility and response support as he recovers. Beyond the practical tasks, the dog would offer something equally important: companionship, confidence, and comfort during a journey that can often feel isolating.
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<div>For Wesley, this dog would not simply be a service animal. It would be a constant partner walking beside him through a life that has been shaped by epilepsy since he was 5 1/2 years old.
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<div>Our hope is that a seizure response dog can provide greater safety for Wesley, greater peace of mind for our family, and greater independence as he grows.
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<div>If Wesley’s story has touched your heart, we would be incredibly grateful for your support. Whether through a donation, a share, or simply helping spread the word, you are becoming part of Wesley’s journey.
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<div>Every contribution helps bring us one step closer to placing a highly trained seizure response dog at Wesley’s side. A companion who will help him navigate the challenges of epilepsy and give him the confidence to embrace childhood with a little more freedom and a little less fear.
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<div>Thank you for supporting Wesley and believing in his future.
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Daniela Vassallo

Brian Manderson

Stephanie Rollins

Charlene Holsinger

JILL DENSON

Anonymous

Kristina Telles

Candice Delpercio

Maria Gortarez

Wendy Morris

Christie Dipley

Marian Medley

Jane Hathaway

Makayla Nguyen

Janet Goodnite

Mary Browning

Devon Kok

Marlene Baltazar

A Life Changing Service Dog for Wesley

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A Life Changing Service Dog for Wesley

Still $10,300 to go. Help us build momentum.