Hearing Dog for Jacob

Jacob Laurello is a 6 year old boy from North Adams, MA.  He was born extremely premature at only 23 weeks gestation.  He was a very sick baby.  He was not expected to live and his parents were told many times that he wouldn't.  He has endured over 20 surgeries for his eyes & intestines.  Jacob's extreme prematurity caused him to be hospitalized for the first year of his life.  He was at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA and then in Boston Children's Hospital.  Jacob was in liver failure when he was moved by his parents to become part of a study where his liver failure was reversed.  Unfortunately, Jacob's prematurity caused him to lose vision in one eye and the medicine that kept him alive cost him his hearing.  He is deaf and last year he received a Cochlear Implant.  He is now doing great.  He will be entering kindergarten in the fall.  He is learning to hear and talk and he doesn't realize he has disabilities.  He is a joy and a miracle to all that know him.


Jacob's family would very much like to get him a hearing dog.  Not only a pet that he can love, but one that will keep him safe.  The cost of the training is very expensive and Jacob's family can not afford this on their own.  Please help us help them.