Help Callie Get Her Seizure Sensing Best Friend

This is my beautiful, energetic 6 year old niece, Callie! She was born with congenital heart disease called L-TGA that lead to several surgeries. In 2017 she had a band placed around her pulmonary artery to strengthen her left ventricle and then in 2018 she had a double switch surgery (they switch her pulmonary arteries and aorta and alter her atria to flow to the opposite sides, they also had to move both coronary arteries to the opposite side).  
The last surgery was successful but she was under anesthesia for a long time - 10 hours under anesthesia and 4 1/2 hours on bypass.

Callie was later diagnosed with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy, which means she suffers seizures which occur mainly in her sleep. Also, contracting a any illness that cases fever can cause grand mal seizures which are very dangerous. Currently, Callie is taking heart medication and anti-seizure medications to help her manage the seizures.

Callie’s parents, Randy and Tori, began searching for additional ways to help manage the seizures that are still occurring. A seizure dog is a dog that has been trained (or has learned) to respond to a seizure in someone who has epilepsy. They are an alarm system. They are helpers, protectors, and service providers. Randy and Tori have chosen a Lagotto Romagnolo, which has an exceptional sense of smell. Seizure response dogs are trained to smell a scent given off by the patient's lungs and Callie's parents plan to train her dog to alert them to this scent. A fully trained adult service dog can cost $40,000.00. Callie’s parents were able to find a Lagotto Romagnolo that is due to have puppies soon and put down a deposit. Once the puppy is old enough, they will begin basic training, which Callie’s mom will be doing as she has trained dogs in the past and is a licensed veterinarian. Later, the puppy will begin specialized training to learn and detect seizures and become a service dog. The puppy will cost approximately $4,500.00 and the specialized training is estimated at $1,500.00.

This service dog will not only alert her family so she can get the help she needs but it can also help Callie when a seizure occurs. If she is at school or outside and has a seizure, the service dog can protect her from further injury by lying next to her or by placing its body between her and the floor if she collapses. It will also give Callie more independence as she still sleeps with her parents in case she has a seizure. It will also give her parents a little more peace of mind for Callie to sleep in her own bed.

Please help make a difference in Callie’s life and help her get a best friend that can also help save her life! Randy, Tori, Callie, Blane and all of our family appreciate any help you can provide. God bless and thank you!