Hi! My name is Paige, and for the people that know me, I have had many unexplained health issues most of my life. I have always been a busy and active individual all while battling asthma, allergies, migraines, joint issues, and already having 2 surgeries on my ankles for ligament stabilization. I am reaching out today for my most recent diagnosis, POTS. Let me explain to you my situation and why I am doing this fundraiser.

In October of 2024, I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Following that was Vasovagal Syncope (VVS), which involves drastic changes in blood pressure that cause me to faint during certain periods of high activity levels. These are examples of diseases that fall into the category of Dysautonomia, which, simply put, is a dysfunctional autonomic nervous system. This affects things like my heart rate, blood pressure, ability to retain nutrients and water, ability to gain and maintain muscle, digestion, level of consciousness, thinking ability, vision, and many more daily life functions. Alongside these disorders, it is suspected that I may have two other autoimmune disorders: Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Hypermobile-Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

The POTS and VVS alone classify me as a disabled individual and have changed the way I live my life immensely. My body can no longer tolerate any exercise that is longer or more intense than a mile-long walk, and even that is exhausting and can cause my heart rate to get into the 180 bpm range. I have to take additional breaks at work to avoid passing out or running myself too low. I have to drink double the amount of recommended water to avoid dehydration. Simple things like bending down to pick up a dropped item or standing up can cause extreme dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness, and even fainting. I now have to think twice before almost every move I make and consider how it may affect me not only in that moment but later in the day as well.

To put some things into perspective, the quality of life for someone who has POTS can be compared to an individual that has COPD or is on dialysis due to kidney failure. In order to experience the fatigue a person with POTS faces every day, an otherwise healthy person would have to not sleep for 3 days and then try to function. It can also be compared to having a very bad case of the flu, every day. Lastly, the effort a person with POTS needs to use to stand up is up to 3 times more than an otherwise healthy person. That is like standing up with two clones of you on top of your back.

A service dog would be beneficial to me in many ways. First, dogs can detect chemical changes in a person's body long before an Apple Watch or even the person themselves can feel it. This would be helpful so the dog could alert me to an oncoming fainting spell or dizzy spell so that I can sit down before I pass out or fall down. This could prevent a worse medical emergency such as head trauma. In addition to this, the dog could help retrieve dropped items, items from low shelves, hit light switches, or handicap buttons. This would help me because bending down can cause dizziness, fainting, and nausea due to changes in head position. Once the dog is older, it can help me with some mobility tasks such as helping guide me to a chair or providing counterbalance when I am feeling dizzy or unsteady.

Service dogs are expensive, anywhere from 20-60K. I have decided to go the puppy route and work with a certified trainer to ensure compatibility. I have already found a certified breeder of service dogs and after multiple health checks and aptitude testing, she has a puppy that she and the trainer feel confident will excel in service work.

However, the hard part is not yet done. This puppy will need to undergo intense training for at least a year and a half before she is considered a fully trained service dog. As a college student and working fulltime to cover my medical expenses, this fundraiser will help cover the initial costs of the puppy, travel to get her, initial vetting, and only some of her training.

Any amount helps, and any ability to share this with people you know helps as well. Thank you for any contributions in advance!