Give Maddox the Gift of Kai. A service dog for autism.

Hi, I’m LaTaya, a military spouse and mom to three incredible neurodivergent boys. Our middle son, Maddox, is 7 years old and autistic. He’s bright, curious, funny, and deeply sensitive. The world can be overwhelming for him—loud noises, unexpected changes, and crowded spaces often lead to meltdowns, shutdowns, or fear. Maddox works so hard to feel safe in a world that doesn’t always make room for his needs. Our home is a beautiful chaos of emotions and needs, and each of our children is doing their absolute best in a world that often feels too loud and too fast.

Kai is not just a dog—he’s a lifeline. Kai is a service dog in training—specially selected and trained to help Maddox with everything from emotional regulation and anxiety to preventing wandering in public places. Maddox has already started working with Kai. We’re seeing a side of Maddox we’ve never seen before—he’s stepping up as a leader, practicing responsibility, and building a bond with Kai that’s rooted in trust and understanding. He holds the leash with pride. He’s learning to give commands. He’s more confident, calmer, and braver just by having Kai beside him. Their bond is forming quickly—and it’s life-changing. When Kai is fully trained, he’ll be able to:

* Calm Maddox during meltdowns with deep pressure and grounding techniques

* Help prevent wandering off in busy or unsafe areas

* Support Maddox through transitions, like going to stores, doctor’s appointments, and unexpected changes in his daily routine.

* Reduce his nighttime anxiety and improve his sleep

* Give him a sense of comfort, connection, and safety.

We’re a military family. Their dad is active duty, and that has meant many sacrifices over the years. We’ve moved more times and across more oceans than I can count. We've lived out of boxes, left behind friends and support systems, and at one point, our family even had to live apart to make sure our boys could stay close to the therapies and specialists they rely on.

Being a military family has shaped our lives in powerful ways, but it’s also come at a real cost—emotionally, financially, and logistically. We’ve done everything we can to create a stable, loving environment despite the constant changes, but there are some things we simply can’t do on our own. That’s why we’re here. We need help to bring Kai home. The full cost of his training and placement is $14,000, and while we’ve done all we can to prepare, we can’t do this alone.

If you’re able to give, please know that every donation—no matter the size—brings us one step closer to bringing Kai home to Maddox. And if you’re not in a position to give, sharing our story helps more than you know.

We’re not looking for sympathy. Just support, hope, and a little help from our community.

With love and gratitude,
LaTaya, Maddox & our entire family.

#AutismPawsitivity

#WithKaiByMySide

#KaiTheCalm

#MaddoxsMālieKai