A SERVICE DOG FOR LILY

In January of 2017 my daughter Lily suddenly became very ill, while working with her doctors, her health continued to decline. Over the last year she has spent 6 weeks in the hospital. In January of 2018, after a nearly fatal episode, she began new medications and therapies. We have been able to resolve some of her illness, but it now appears that she will be living with permanent symptoms which inhibit her ability to fully participate in life.  We are certain that having a service dog will greatly increase Lily's quality of life as well as keep her safe. Her service dog would alert her to episodes and provide support and safety until each episode has passed. The dog will be trained to remind her to take medications which are needed throughout the day, as well as many other activities of daily living. The constant support a service dog provides would be invaluable to Lily's condition. She has been exceedingly brave through all of this and continues to be as she faces the reality that she may be living with this disability permanently. Lily has been coping on her own but her strength is wearing out, she has not been able to be as active as she was before and she is currently unable to remain in the classroom during episodes. Having a service dog not only could save her life, but would also make her illness maneageable and will take the loneliness out of it. A service dog for Lily means that she can live with her condition, enjoy an active lifestyle, stay in the classroom, and regain independence. Service Dog Tasks Medication Reminder Assist coping for emotional overload Provide buffer/shield/block by creating a physical boundary Alert for cortisol levels and hallucinations Compression therapy for panic symptoms Redirection for self-harm Support for involuntary muscle spasming, twitching, jerking, shaking Physical support for medication side effects, lightheadedness, and fainting As with any specialized care, service dogs are not free. In light of all of our other related expenses and the great cost to obtain and train a dog we are appealing for help. We sincerely appreciate any help, including prayer. Thank you for taking time to read our story. Sincerely, Jennifer (Lily's mom)   Cost Breakdown Puppy: $2500 Approximate initial vet costs: $600 Training: Obedience 1  $650 Obedience 2: $800 Specialized training for disability: $1200  Air travel support training:   $800 Training through Nitrok9 Total: $6550.00 Any additional funds received will used expressly for continued veterinary care and training as needed.