Help Cameron's medical service dog Keita
Donation protected
Jesse and Casey Bates live in Savona NY very near Bath with their three children, Cameron, Caitlyn and Chelsey. Casey is expecting their fourth. With some family history on Jesse’s side, the onset of seizures happened in his generation and his father’s. Now the disorder has targeted their eldest, Cameron. With no apparent trigger, Cameron has been struck with seizures starting about two years ago at age 13.
The other member of the household was Turbo, their young German Shepherd. At the time Cameron’s seizures started, Turbo seemed to sense the problem. He quickly became an early warning system, alerting the family by going from room to room barking a few minutes prior to an attack. This alerted everyone to prepare to do what they could for Cameron. This was especially critical when a seizure occurred when the family was asleep.
About three months ago, a freak accident added more grief onto this loving family. Turbo, playing property guardian, went to the edge of the yard at the road to warn off a hiker. At the same time, a distracted, texting driver, left the pavement and drove onto the unpaved roadside. He struck and killed beloved Turbo. The shocked family witnessed the horrible accident. The children were hysterical, the parents overwhelmed with grief.
Jesse knew he had to replace Turbo even while the family couldn’t speak, the pain was so great. As Jesse called local breeders, he soon discovered that the sequestered US population had turned to puppy buying and training. Breeders were sold out. Even the shelters were empty. As luck would have it, he called Don Spear whose kennel was run by his partner, Jodi Hartman in Canisteo, just 4 miles away. Don recalls that Jesse was barely able to talk as he recounted the episode. Don and Jodi also had a long waiting list of puppy buyers, but knew of a solution. Three days earlier, another breeder friend of Don’s had called to offer a year-old adolescent Shepherd that was oddly enough, unsold. This young female was sired by one of the best dogs in the US, a sire that Don had, in fact, used at his own kennel. Don quickly purchased her, a jet black, working line European GSD and provided her to Jesse and Casey. Such a top, European dog isn’t inexpensive. The first price offered to Don was to keep the dog as a breeding female in his kennel and pay $500 for each of her pups for her entire breeding life. That could easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Finally, an offer was made and accepted. The dog cost $4,500 but was worth far more. Jesse and Casey could raise $2,000. Don decided to do this GFM for the balance.
The new dog, Keita, true to her lineage, has been remarkable. She has never needed a lead. She stays close to the family when outside, off lead. In less than an hour of being introduced to her new home, she recognized that Cameron is special. She spent a great deal of time with him, immediately. The Bates think it is her high level of intelligence and a keen sense of smell. The prevailing belief is that dogs can smell a chemical imbalance in humans and know that it isn’t good. In a matter of days, she has developed a pattern of checking in on Cameron regularly as if to assure herself that he is OK. Cameron, of course, is under the expert care of doctors at the highly regarded University of Rochester Medical Center which has a division specializing in the treatment of seizures.
All that is needed to close this heart-warming story is to help the Bates family clear up the outstanding balance. They do have out-of-pocket medication expense for their son as well.
We welcome donations of whatever you can afford. When we hit the target, we are done.
The other member of the household was Turbo, their young German Shepherd. At the time Cameron’s seizures started, Turbo seemed to sense the problem. He quickly became an early warning system, alerting the family by going from room to room barking a few minutes prior to an attack. This alerted everyone to prepare to do what they could for Cameron. This was especially critical when a seizure occurred when the family was asleep.
About three months ago, a freak accident added more grief onto this loving family. Turbo, playing property guardian, went to the edge of the yard at the road to warn off a hiker. At the same time, a distracted, texting driver, left the pavement and drove onto the unpaved roadside. He struck and killed beloved Turbo. The shocked family witnessed the horrible accident. The children were hysterical, the parents overwhelmed with grief.
Jesse knew he had to replace Turbo even while the family couldn’t speak, the pain was so great. As Jesse called local breeders, he soon discovered that the sequestered US population had turned to puppy buying and training. Breeders were sold out. Even the shelters were empty. As luck would have it, he called Don Spear whose kennel was run by his partner, Jodi Hartman in Canisteo, just 4 miles away. Don recalls that Jesse was barely able to talk as he recounted the episode. Don and Jodi also had a long waiting list of puppy buyers, but knew of a solution. Three days earlier, another breeder friend of Don’s had called to offer a year-old adolescent Shepherd that was oddly enough, unsold. This young female was sired by one of the best dogs in the US, a sire that Don had, in fact, used at his own kennel. Don quickly purchased her, a jet black, working line European GSD and provided her to Jesse and Casey. Such a top, European dog isn’t inexpensive. The first price offered to Don was to keep the dog as a breeding female in his kennel and pay $500 for each of her pups for her entire breeding life. That could easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars. Finally, an offer was made and accepted. The dog cost $4,500 but was worth far more. Jesse and Casey could raise $2,000. Don decided to do this GFM for the balance.
The new dog, Keita, true to her lineage, has been remarkable. She has never needed a lead. She stays close to the family when outside, off lead. In less than an hour of being introduced to her new home, she recognized that Cameron is special. She spent a great deal of time with him, immediately. The Bates think it is her high level of intelligence and a keen sense of smell. The prevailing belief is that dogs can smell a chemical imbalance in humans and know that it isn’t good. In a matter of days, she has developed a pattern of checking in on Cameron regularly as if to assure herself that he is OK. Cameron, of course, is under the expert care of doctors at the highly regarded University of Rochester Medical Center which has a division specializing in the treatment of seizures.
All that is needed to close this heart-warming story is to help the Bates family clear up the outstanding balance. They do have out-of-pocket medication expense for their son as well.
We welcome donations of whatever you can afford. When we hit the target, we are done.
Organizer
Donald Spear
Organizer
Naples, FL
