Fund a Support Dog for Emma!

Hi, I’d like you to meet Buddy. Buddy is an 8 week old chocolate lab who has been specifically bred as a support animal and who will be trained through the Aspen Service Dogs program, and he is about to become Emma Geyer’s best friend. And now, meet Emma. Emma is the 10 year old daughter of Kathryn and Matt Geyer, and Emma has recently been diagnosed with autism and the challenges that the Geyer’s have faced recently have led Kathryn to take the last few months off of work to support Emma’s current situation and ensure her safety in this difficult period of diagnosis and adaptation. The financial stresses of being on a significantly reduced income while the Geyer’s focus on Emma’s treatment and therapy have now been compounded by the decision that they have made, on the advice of their medical team, that Emma would benefit significantly from having a service dog that will help her mediate and take control of her daily struggles. The Geyer’s have spent the last several years in pursuit of diagnoses for Emma that address her behaviours and challenges. It has been rigorous, exhausting, and emotionally and financially draining, but Emma’s support and well-being is paramount to the family. In opting to pursue a support dog for Emma, there are many considerations, medical service dogs are unfortunately not a resource or treatment option that is covered by our healthcare system, but Kathryn and Matt are willing to go to any lengths to support Emma and her mental and physical well-being. I am starting this go fund me to ask our community of family and friends to come together to provide support for this family as they support their little girl. It has been so incredibly difficult to watch my best friend experience such challenges with her child, but it has also been encouraging to know that Emma is loved and supported beyond measure. My greatest hope in setting up this fundraiser is that we, as a community of parents and friends, will be able to help alleviate some of the costs and stresses while this family does everything possible to ensure that Emma has every opportunity to adapt and grow up confident and supported.