A Service Dog for Cannon
Donation protected
Please help me give back to a family that gives to their community and country every day.
John and Christine have been a dedicated Air Force family for over 20 years. Their first child, Cannon Caldwell, came at an exciting time when life was literally just getting off the ground (John is a F-16 pilot) with their first military assignment overseas. Cannon was born and was the cutest baby! But, along with this sweet new baby came a lot of decisions; life had to be re-engineered to a certain extent.
You see, Cannon is an amazing kid with an extra chromosome. He was born with Down Syndrome and later was also diagnosed on the Autism spectrum, each comes with unique challenges. Despite these challenges, John and Christine forged ahead with both career aspirations and their desire for more children. They are now a family of 5 with John serving as a Commander in the Air Force.
The Challenges
John serves our country in the Air Force and like many military families, Christine is the unsung hero that keeps the family going despite frequent moves and periods of absence by John during deployments. These facts are challenging enough in a typical family; but in a special needs family, it is dedication, grit, and character that makes this family shine. I am not an expert on Autism or Down Syndrome, but as John’s mom and Cannon’s grandmother, I have observed firsthand some of the obstacles that John and Christine face daily without complaint.
They are tired on a consistent basis because Cannon doesn’t sleep well through the night. He likes the comfort of companionship and wakes for reassurance. He can experience anxiety when his environment is overstimulating which can cause emotional outbursts. He tends to wander. The doors must be “Cannon proof” to avoid him fleeing. These factors inhibit the family from having the ability to participate in “normal” social outings. There is always an assessment of feasibility due to the environment and adequate eyes to watch Cannon.
After a lot of discussions, research, and brain storming, we have concluded that Cannon would benefit from a Service/Therapy Dog. And, it is not only Cannon that will benefit but the entire family. The obstacle is the large cash outlay required to begin this process. That is where this fundraiser comes into play. We may not be able to help John and Christine daily, but this is something we can do to improve Cannon’s daily life and thereby the entire family’s.
Help me give to a family that spends every day giving to others.
John and Christine have been a dedicated Air Force family for over 20 years. Their first child, Cannon Caldwell, came at an exciting time when life was literally just getting off the ground (John is a F-16 pilot) with their first military assignment overseas. Cannon was born and was the cutest baby! But, along with this sweet new baby came a lot of decisions; life had to be re-engineered to a certain extent.
You see, Cannon is an amazing kid with an extra chromosome. He was born with Down Syndrome and later was also diagnosed on the Autism spectrum, each comes with unique challenges. Despite these challenges, John and Christine forged ahead with both career aspirations and their desire for more children. They are now a family of 5 with John serving as a Commander in the Air Force.
The Challenges
John serves our country in the Air Force and like many military families, Christine is the unsung hero that keeps the family going despite frequent moves and periods of absence by John during deployments. These facts are challenging enough in a typical family; but in a special needs family, it is dedication, grit, and character that makes this family shine. I am not an expert on Autism or Down Syndrome, but as John’s mom and Cannon’s grandmother, I have observed firsthand some of the obstacles that John and Christine face daily without complaint.
They are tired on a consistent basis because Cannon doesn’t sleep well through the night. He likes the comfort of companionship and wakes for reassurance. He can experience anxiety when his environment is overstimulating which can cause emotional outbursts. He tends to wander. The doors must be “Cannon proof” to avoid him fleeing. These factors inhibit the family from having the ability to participate in “normal” social outings. There is always an assessment of feasibility due to the environment and adequate eyes to watch Cannon.
After a lot of discussions, research, and brain storming, we have concluded that Cannon would benefit from a Service/Therapy Dog. And, it is not only Cannon that will benefit but the entire family. The obstacle is the large cash outlay required to begin this process. That is where this fundraiser comes into play. We may not be able to help John and Christine daily, but this is something we can do to improve Cannon’s daily life and thereby the entire family’s.
Help me give to a family that spends every day giving to others.
Organizer
Georgia Caldwell Oswald
Organizer
Orlando, FL