A Paw to Hold: Leia’s Journey to a Life-Changing Service Dog

Leia is 4 years old. She’s autistic, learning disabled, and one of the most loving, curious, and determined kids I’ve ever known. She’s a twin—her brother Luke is her best friend—and she also has a little sister, Camila, who’s only 2. Our house is full of love, laughter, and a lot of chaos.

But Leia’s challenges are serious and sometimes dangerous.

She doesn’t have a sense of fear or danger. She has run straight into live traffic. She climbs to the highest and most unsafe places like she’s a cat or a bird, totally unaware of how dangerous it is. She regularly wanders or bolts, especially when she’s overwhelmed—and when it’s just me or my wife out with the kids, it becomes a crisis in seconds. Do we run after Leia and leave the others behind? Or stay put and risk her getting hurt? It’s not a choice any parent should have to make.

Things like buzzing lights, sudden noises, or flashing signs can send her into sensory overload. Her body goes into fight-or-flight mode, and often that means running—without warning. It’s terrifying.

Luke and Camila are always trying to help. They love their sister deeply, and they step up more than most kids ever should have to. But it’s a lot to ask of them. They deserve to just be kids. And Leia deserves more support than even her loving family can give her on our own.

That’s why we’re raising money for a professionally trained autism service dog—a companion who can help Leia feel calm, safe, and supported, and most importantly, help keep her from getting hurt.

These dogs are trained to:

• Stop children from bolting or wandering

• Track them if they run

• Apply calming pressure during meltdowns

• Interrupt unsafe behaviors

• Provide comfort and help them navigate the world

A service dog won’t just help Leia—it will ease the weight on her siblings, give my wife and I peace of mind, and provide the kind of support we can’t give her alone. But these dogs are expensive—$15,000 to $25,000—and insurance won’t cover it.

We’re doing everything we can to make it happen, but we need help. If you’re able to donate, or even just share our story, it would mean the world to our family.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for helping us give Leia the support she deserves.

— Max, Wendy, Luke, Leia & Camila