Gabriel's Chance for a Service Dog

Gabriel suffers from a severe, life threatening form of epilepsy. At the young age of 13 months old he was diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a mutation that occurred on its own in his sodium channel. He had his first known seizure at 3 months old and since then has suffered a handful of different seizure types and status seizures lasting up to four hours long. As we have seen the syndrome progress, from one big seizure a month to 50 to a hundred smaller seizures everyday in the last year, an awareness has been brought to our attention. The need for a service dog to be by his side, to aid him to get through his days. A seizure response dog could help steady him since he falls to the ground from atonic (drop)and myoclonic (jerking)seizures, to hopefully be able to alert us of a bigger seizure (tonic clonic or a grandmal) coming, and to gain him some independence during the day and night as he grows. Plus he has such a love for dogs, we are praying a true companion will lessen his daily stresses and reduce seizures! I have read this to be true for most!
Gabriel's condition is life long, with the prognosis of dependence on a caregiver for life, the continuation of seizures, and declining cognitive and motor gains and skills, along with a higher chance of SUDEP and death.
We are giving him a fighting chance to live like any other child. This would be a step further in that direction.

Noelles Dogs Four Hope, here in Colorado has approved his application for a seizure response/alert dog! Once we raise $1000 a puppy will be chosen and then immediately trained for the next 18 months just for Gabriel! Then during the training $8000 will continue to be fundraised for the completion of the program.

We are asking for any support for Gabriel's mission to gain him this incredible opportunity. There are several programs out there that age is a factor and restrict a dog. Fortunately,  Noelles does not believe in this theory and neither do we. The bond at a young age, we feel would further improve detection of seizures.

Any support, sharing and spreading of his mission, and also fundraising ideas, we would greatly appreciate. As most know we are medical refugees from Pennsylvania. We immediately left when Gabriel's life was at risk due to blindly prescribing medications he was deathly allergic to without a diagnosis, and for the hope of medical cannabis being an option for treatment. This has been a hard journey so far, one that has only begun. As his parents we want as many opportunities to see him be able to thrive, live, and experience happiness and good health. Thank you for sharing the same love and care for our angel, Gabriel. It will be a rewarding day when he meets his future seizure response dog!