Growing up in an abusive household, Child Protective Servies told me that I was a case that "slipped through the cracks," when they showed up towards the end of my time in high school. In order to cope with my difficult childhood, I developed Anorexia Nervosa at the age of 12 and deeply struggled with self-harm and suicidal ideation that followed me into college.

Throughout my college years and the past several years of my life, I struggled to survive as I have had over 15 general hospitalization programs, livid in long term at 4 residential treatment facilities, tried 6 partial hospitalization programs, and many other treatment modalities, program, and medications.

Last year, I was in the intensive Care Unit (ICU) that doctors did not believe I would recover from, now living with the medical consequences that I wish I could reverse. I was almost admitted to a State facility because psychiatrists did not believe in my ability to function in society as Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder left me unable to handle being in public and I was unable to keep myself sale on my own, told that I would never be able to live independently .... but I am blessed that my mum stood up for me and took full responsibility for my safety and care.

However, upon learning that the news of my mom having to move to another State to be protected and provided for by a domestic violence program, I was left in a tricky predicament. My treatment team had already mentioned how a service dog might be able to help me and greatly impact my recovery journey, and yet I did not truly consider it until I knew that I would no longer be in the care of my mom, having to move in to live with other family that are not as involved in my care.

Having a service dog is a life-changing chance for me to truly gain more independence as a young adult, be able to function in public and society, hopefully be able to hold a job, and maintain a life in recovery as I continue to heal from the trauma of my past.

The only barrier is that I do not have the financial means to afford the training that goes into having a service dog and my family does not either. I still have many medical bills to pay off and without the ability to hold stable employment, this has proven difficult to do so.

Your help would mean the world to me because you would be giving me the chance to believe that this life is worth fighting for and that with a service dog by my side, I am capable of healing and gaining independence, despite what psychiatrists and doctors have told me.

You would be giving me a fighting chance to beat the odds and make a difference in this life. Not just a forgotten cast off from the land of abusive households and protective services. Help me not fall through the crack another time.

"You are so lived and appreciated, thank you!"