Emery is a ten-year-old little girl who was diagnosed with epilepsy before the age of one. Despite years of hospital stays, EEGs, MRIs, medications, and ongoing testing, she has always remained bright, resilient, and full of life. Over the last year, however, her epilepsy has progressed significantly. She is now experiencing frequent uncontrolled seizures despite multiple medications and treatment changes, including repeated episodes of status epilepticus — a life-threatening neurological emergency where seizures do not stop on their own.

Recent EEGs have shown ongoing abnormal seizure activity, including SWAS (Sleep-Activated Spike-Wave Activity), meaning her brain experiences near-continuous seizure activity during sleep, impacting her learning, memory, cognition, and overall neurological functioning.

Her seizures now affect nearly every part of daily life, causing her to miss school, sports, and activities she loves while requiring constant supervision for her safety.

A seizure service dog could greatly improve Emery’s safety, independence, and quality of life, but the cost is approximately $35,000 plus travel expenses.

To learn more about Emery’s life and how this impacts her, you can find more information below.

Emery is my ten-year-old niece, who was diagnosed with epilepsy before the age of one. Since then, she has endured more hospital stays, EEGs, MRIs, CT scans, medications, testing, and monitoring than any child ever should. Despite everything, Emery continues to be a bright, funny little girl who loves to laugh, play ball, and spend time with her family and friends.

Over the last year, Emery’s epilepsy has progressed significantly. She is now experiencing frequent uncontrolled seizures despite multiple medications and ongoing treatment changes. She has tried and failed several medications, continues to undergo constant testing and specialist appointments, and has required repeated emergency hospital visits due to seizure activity and status epilepticus — a life-threatening neurological emergency where seizures do not stop on their own.

Recent EEGs have shown concerning ongoing seizure activity in her brain, including SWAS (Sleep-Activated Spike-Wave Activity), where abnormal electrical activity becomes nearly continuous during sleep. Her medical team has explained that this means Emery’s brain is struggling to fully rest and recover, even while sleeping, and that this ongoing electrical seizure activity can impact learning, memory, behaviour, cognition, and overall neurological functioning.

Her seizures now impact nearly every part of her life. Emery is missing multiple days of school, missing ball practices and activities she loves, and losing more of the independence every child deserves to have. During her complex partial seizures, she may appear awake but becomes confused, unaware of her surroundings, unable to form sentences, unable to safely walk, and has no memory of what happened afterward.

What many people do not see is that the impact of her seizures does not end once the visible seizure stops. After severe seizures and emergency medical intervention, Emery can spend days exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, confused, weak, and unable to safely return to normal activities. Medication increases and emergency rescue medications can dramatically affect her physically and cognitively, often leaving her unable to fully participate in school, sports, friendships, and everyday childhood experiences.

Her parents have always tried to give Emery a life that was not centered around her diagnosis, but as her seizures have worsened, her safety now impacts every part of daily life. Simple things many children take for granted now require constant supervision and planning. One of the hardest parts has been watching epilepsy slowly take pieces of her childhood from her. Her parents and loved ones, now live in constant fear of the next seizure, the next emergency call from school, the next ambulance ride, or the next episode of status epilepticus.

We have learned that a seizure service dog could greatly improve Emery’s safety, independence, and quality of life. A specially trained seizure service dog could alert others during seizures, respond during emergencies, help keep Emery safe during periods of confusion or altered awareness, and allow her to regain some of the freedom epilepsy has taken from her.

Unfortunately, funded programs in Canada are either closed to applications, have years-long waitlists, or require children to be older before qualifying. Her parents were able to find a private program that specifically trains seizure service dogs for children like Emery, but the cost is approximately $30,000, not including the required travel and stays during training.

My hope is that by sharing part of Emery’s story, she can regain some of the safety, freedom, independence, and childhood that epilepsy has taken from her. Any support, whether through donations or simply sharing her story, would mean more than words can express.

All funds raised will go directly toward the cost of Emery’s seizure service dog, required travel and training expenses, and the ongoing supplies, care, and medical support associated with acquiring and maintaining a specialized seizure response service dog.