Help get Marla Smith Rollin with her Rotties
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Help Get Marla Rolling with her Rotties
“Let’s work together to raise funds to help recent amputee Marla Smith and her two Service Rotties.”
Something we can never be prepared for is the unexpected loss of limbs. Despite suffering from numerous soft tissue infections in her legs, Marla, a 43 year old resident of Leduc, never expected to end up an amputee. In June she developed what appeared to be a typical soft tissue infection. However it was anything but typical. It rapidly progressed to the point of developing wounds so deep that bone was exposed and she went into septic shock and her kidneys began to shut down. It required the amputation of both legs and a second and third surgery to redo the amputation on both sides to stop the spread of the infection.
Losing both her legs from a catastrophic infection has affected so many aspects of her life. She has had to give up the home she rented as it could not accommodate a wheelchair. She may even have to move away from her friends and support network she is struggling to find wheelchair accessible places in Leduc available to rent for individuals under 55.
For the past several years she has battled with a chronic neuroinflammatory disorder which led to swelling in the extremities, frequent serious infections, unhealing wounds, fainting spells and severe pain. At the recommendation of her specialist, she began pursuing a service dog to assist her with issues arising from mobility and pain related problems. Although she had already been on a waitlist for a few years, when Alberta announced they would allow privately trained service dogs to be included in the provinces Service Dog Act, she began training her Rottweiler, Roxy. After passing her testing, Roxy was the first Rottweiler in Canada to be granted service dog status by a government program. Roxy is due to retire in 2020 so Marla is currently working with a young male Rottweiler with plans of having him tested and qualified by the province before the end of the year.
This fundraiser's primary purpose is to raise funds to purchase a modified vehicle with a lift and hand controls so that Marla and her dogs can continue to be active in her community. Marla often provides education regarding service dogs and is always willing to help others with disabilities begin their own service dog journey. By having a vehicle she can not only regain some of her independence by being able to get out to do her own shopping, get to her own appointments and continue to be part of her community. Marla can no longer visit most of her friends in their homes as she can't access them, but a vehicle could allow her to still meet with them in town. It's vital to her quality of life that she be able to socialize and access recreational activities.
Our hope is we can get enough funds raised so we can put Marla and her Service Rotties into a safe and reliable vehicle and to assist with the cost of any other medical equipment. By doing so we can help her regain her freedom and some of her quality of life.
“Let’s work together to raise funds to help recent amputee Marla Smith and her two Service Rotties.”
Something we can never be prepared for is the unexpected loss of limbs. Despite suffering from numerous soft tissue infections in her legs, Marla, a 43 year old resident of Leduc, never expected to end up an amputee. In June she developed what appeared to be a typical soft tissue infection. However it was anything but typical. It rapidly progressed to the point of developing wounds so deep that bone was exposed and she went into septic shock and her kidneys began to shut down. It required the amputation of both legs and a second and third surgery to redo the amputation on both sides to stop the spread of the infection.
Losing both her legs from a catastrophic infection has affected so many aspects of her life. She has had to give up the home she rented as it could not accommodate a wheelchair. She may even have to move away from her friends and support network she is struggling to find wheelchair accessible places in Leduc available to rent for individuals under 55.
For the past several years she has battled with a chronic neuroinflammatory disorder which led to swelling in the extremities, frequent serious infections, unhealing wounds, fainting spells and severe pain. At the recommendation of her specialist, she began pursuing a service dog to assist her with issues arising from mobility and pain related problems. Although she had already been on a waitlist for a few years, when Alberta announced they would allow privately trained service dogs to be included in the provinces Service Dog Act, she began training her Rottweiler, Roxy. After passing her testing, Roxy was the first Rottweiler in Canada to be granted service dog status by a government program. Roxy is due to retire in 2020 so Marla is currently working with a young male Rottweiler with plans of having him tested and qualified by the province before the end of the year.
This fundraiser's primary purpose is to raise funds to purchase a modified vehicle with a lift and hand controls so that Marla and her dogs can continue to be active in her community. Marla often provides education regarding service dogs and is always willing to help others with disabilities begin their own service dog journey. By having a vehicle she can not only regain some of her independence by being able to get out to do her own shopping, get to her own appointments and continue to be part of her community. Marla can no longer visit most of her friends in their homes as she can't access them, but a vehicle could allow her to still meet with them in town. It's vital to her quality of life that she be able to socialize and access recreational activities.
Our hope is we can get enough funds raised so we can put Marla and her Service Rotties into a safe and reliable vehicle and to assist with the cost of any other medical equipment. By doing so we can help her regain her freedom and some of her quality of life.
Organizer
Christie Miller
Organizer
Tofield, AB
