Fund Hunter's Lifesaving SRD Companion

My name is Lisa and I am trying to raise funds for a SRD (Seizure Response Dog) for my epileptic son, Hunter Torchick. Hunter is a special young man with a huge heart and a newfound passion for fishing. On June 30, 2024 he had a seizure while fishing at Buzzard’s Roost Lake, located in Slate Run Metro Park. The seizure caused him to fall into the lake head first. Thank God there was a young couple nearby that ran to his aid and rescued him from drowning. He was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital Emergency Department, where he had a second seizure. Hunter was then transferred to the ICU for medical care. Hunter has since been discharged from the hospital and is struggling. Not only is he dealing with the reality that he almost lost his life, but he is also recovering from the physical trauma his brain and body incurred. In addition, his tackle box, with all of his fishing tackle, was taken, because Hunter was incapacitated from the seizure and aftermath.

Please allow me to give you some background information on my son.

Hunter had his first seizure at 13 years of age. We had hoped it was a fluke. He was told that he was predisposed to seizures because the left side of his brain ‘threw spikes’ on a brain EEG test. For the next six years he was monitored and remained seizure free.

In 2021, at the age of 19, Hunter began having seizures. These tonic-clonic seizures would result in bone fractures. With one seizure Hunter gave himself 2 compound fractures, in his thoracic vertebrae and with another he sustained 3 more thoracic vertebral compound fractures. A subsequent seizure left him with a right shoulder fracture and dislocation, requiring surgery. Only a few months later, a seizure caused a traumatic left shoulder dislocation, again requiring surgery, to repair and stabilize. At this time specialists were trying different anti-seizure medications and dosages to try and control his seizures and prevent such devastating injuries. During this period, Hunter had to adopt additional safety precautions into his daily life. He was unable to: drive a motorized vehicle; take baths; take showers, with the door secured; lock his bedroom door, be near bodies of water unattended or without a life preserver and the use of ladders was highly discouraged. Hunter was driven to all of his appointments (medical or otherwise) and rarely left home. During one of these medical appointments, to treat disabling back pain from the 5 compound spinal fractures, a physician diagnosed Hunter with Scheuermann's Kyphosis and subsequent testing showed that Hunter also had Osteoporosis. The surgical treatment for Scheuermann’s Kyphosis (surgery) was not possible because of the Osteoporosis; his poor bone health could not support the hardware needed for a major spinal fusion surgery. Hunter began receiving Zometa infusions, every 90 days, to treat the Osteoporosis—-and two years later is still receiving that therapy. Pain, from the fractures, Osteoporosis and Scheuermann’s Disease made daily tasks painful, if not impossible. It was at this time when Hunter was forced to give up participating in hobbies such as bee keeping, fishing and paint ball that he enjoyed. Hunter became a recluse, only leaving the house to attend appointments because he was fearful of experiencing pain from physical activity and the possibility of having a seizure and being injured or placed in a vulnerable position.

Recently, Hunter had began to feel more confident that his seizures were being medically controlled. His bone health had improved and he was scheduled for a spinal fusion operation, this coming August. Over the last couple of weeks he rekindled his interest in fishing. He first started driving to nearby lakes and going for a short period of time. He enjoyed it so much that he would venture further and stay fishing longer. He would return with back pain from periods of standing and casting, but would try to push through it. Hunter was motivated to try and get up early to go fishing. He would pack a small food/drink bag, take his anti-seizure/pain medications and let me know what time to expect him home. He would text to say when he was heading home and would return excited to talk about his day’s adventures. it was wonderful to listen to his tales and see his photos and videos. Best of all we were elated that he was finally driving, getting out of the house, feeling more confident, and enjoying life, like guys his age. Sadly the recent events on June 30, 2024 took all that away from him. We almost lost our son because of his epilepsy. Unfortunately, Hunter has no warning before the onset of a seizure which causes a great deal of insecurity and fear. Recent events have caused him to realize the profound dangerous and limitations attributed to his having epilepsy.

Because of his having had a recent seizure, he is now prohibited from driving and fishing alone would be very risky. This means that if Hunter wanted to continue to pursue his passion for fishing, he would be required to have a fishing chaperone. Trying to coordinate fishing excursions with a chaperone would be at the discretion of their schedule and not allow Hunter the opportunity to function independently.

The benefits of Hunter having a trained SRD are numerous. A SRD could warn Hunter of an impending seizure and allow him to prepare and seek help. Hunter would have the reassurance and confidence necessary to overcome the challenges he faces and to lead a more independent life.