Service Dog for POTs

Hey guys! I'm Paige. I am a stay at home mom, photographer, and Jesus follower.

After an exhausting 4 years of many doctor visits, specialist visits, tests, bloodwork, dead ends, and no answers, I found a doctor that truly listened to all my issues. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and a chronic illness. My main diagnosis being POTs (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). It is a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system. This illness has a spectrum of varying degrees of symptoms. Mine started out mild but have consistently worsened over the years. Every day is different with some being almost symptom free to others being awful. Some of my symptoms include fainting, blacking out, pre-syncope episodes, chronic joint pain, GI issues, extremely low blood pressure, rapid increase in heart rate, shortness of breath, heat intolerance, inability to regulate my body temperature, dizziness, brain fog, lightheadedness, etc. POTs is a debilitating, chronic illness that has significantly impacted my life. It is like a thief that threatens to steal your health, energy, quality time with family, joy, career, ability to be active, but most importantly it steals the person you used to be. The mom you want to be.

POTs has made it increasingly difficult and some days impossible to work or carry out day to day activities. I have been working on some therapies, but POTs is all about managing the symptoms. My doctor has recommended a service dog to assist with this.

I have been matched with a service dog in training named Mason. He will be training until Spring and will be placed with me upon finishing. Having Mason will be so helpful in my day-to-day life and will help me regain my independence and confidence in the activities that I do. I have cut back a lot in photography and I want to be able to get back full-time to what I am passionate about as well. He will be trained to alert to my high heart rate, perform deep pressure therapy to lower it, pickup objects (as bending over often causes blackouts), assist to wake if I faint, etc. He is a remarkable boy who will be a tremendous help in managing my symptoms.

The cost of a fully trained service dog is expensive (around $19k), and we are asking our community for your help and support. We ask that if you can please donate, this will be life-changing for our family. I truly appreciate each and every donation! If you are unable to donate, prayers are requested. I believe in the power of prayer. If having a chronic illness has taught me anything, it's that I could never handle it on my own. That is where my faith comes in and where God shows that he is indeed "our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1 God has a purpose and a plan. I choose to trust in Him and I feel that this process is part of that plan. Thank you all so very much!