Abigail is a 16 year old rising high school junior. At the end of 2024 she began developing some concerning medical symptoms. She was put through a battery of tests, including MRIs, CT scans, endoscopy, ultrasounds, blood draws so numerous that we lost count. She saw over 13 doctors and yet they still were not sure what was going on. In February, she was hospitalized for 4 days after not being able to keep down anything but water. It was in the hospital after a barium swallow test and yet another MRI that they were finally able to diagnose 2 neurological conditions. We were referred to a neurologist who specializes in one of these RARE conditions and we waited 3 months for her. During that appointment just last week, Abigail was diagnosed with a 3rd neurological condition.

Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) is a rare condition that affects less than 2 % of the population. CVS is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, or an easier way to explain that is a disruption of the signals from the brain to the body. This condition causes extreme nausea and violent vomiting. Most episodes cause the capillaries in her eyebrows to burst from the intensity. After an episode, she is left with zero energy and cannot even get up from the bathroom floor without assistance. Some of her episodes are triggered by food, some by her other conditions, sometimes her emotions and hormones trigger an episode and other times there is no trigger. The treatment for CVS is very difficult as treatment may help one person and not the other.

Chiari 1 brain malformation. The base of Abigail's brain sits down too far in her spinal column which causes pressure to build up. While this condition is not what is causing her symptoms, it makes her symptoms much worse as the symptoms themselves put pressure on her brain stem and cause intense headaches and exhaustion.

The most recent diagnosis is dysautonomia. This is a condition that is also a disruption of the signals from her brain to her body. This causes Abigail to struggle with her balance, to have chronic dizziness and tunnel vision, to feel like she is about to pass out and for her legs to often become like jelly. It also causes brain fog and after an episode it can cause her to not have full control of her body.

All of these conditions in themselves are scary. Imagine having all 3 and being a teenager! Abigail is seeking to be as independent as possible. She drives, works and is about to start the cosmetology program at school. These are all times when she is on her own, away from her parents and home. When she is away from us and feels sick it can create a very scary time for her. Because of this, we are working to get her a service dog.

The service dog will be highly trained to accompany Abigail in all of her daily activities. She will be trained to alert her before an episode starts, let her know when she needs to sit or rest to help prevent an episode and the biggest help will be that the dog will provide a balance/support to help her stay upright without falling and to help her get back up when she needs to. The dog will also learn to get help, to stay with Abby through an episode to be there for comfort and to help her get grounded and calm after an episode.

Service dogs are VERY expensive. Not just their training but also their care as far as grooming, veterinary care and day to day needs. We would like to raise $7,500 to help Abigail get her service dog. Please consider helping if you are able. Please share!