Hello My name is Mackenzie / Kenzie. I’m 17 and I live in Sydney, Australia with my mum. This has been written with my mum’s help.

As a newborn baby, I was airlifted to a Newborn Intensive Care Unit where doctors discovered that my brain didn't develop properly. I was born blind because of it. I have a condition called Septo Optic Dysplasia, as well as Autism and an intellectual disability. Because of differences in my brain and nervous system, I also live with severe anxiety and a sensory processing disorder.

Part of my diagnosis means my pituitary gland doesn’t work properly. This gland controls all the hormones in the body, and I need four hormone replacement medications every day to survive and stay well. One of the hormones I’m missing is cortisol, which is vital during times of stress. Without it, I can go into adrenal crisis, which is life-threatening.

Although I am a very bubbly, playful and social, my disability affects the way I hear, feel, interact with and experience the world.

Lots of sounds, environments and experiences make me feel unsafe and overwhelmed. Although I’ve learned some ways to cope over time, my anxiety has increased in the last couple of years. I have a deep fear of being separated from my mum, which has been very hard for both of us. She is a single parent and my primary support person.

I have been given many tools to manage my anxiety, and I continue to use medication and therapy. But there are some things I haven’t been able to control.

To help me, we are hoping to get a dog that will be trained as a therapy assistance dog specifically trained for my needs.

It won’t be a guide dog — I still need a person to guide me in the community because of my disability — but it will be a very special companion and support animal.

My dog will be trained to:

• Recognise when I am anxious or stressed (dogs can sense changes in cortisol levels so it will learn to calm me in stressful moments)

• Provide deep pressure therapy to help calm my nervous system

• Give me something safe to connect to when my mum isn’t with me

• Help me feel secure at night by sleeping with me

• Interrupt my stress behaviour of peeling off my fingernails (this is a painful stimming behaviour that helps me manage my stress but is not good for me - I read Braille and need healthy fingers to read and type)

• Pick things up for me when I drop them

Because of my disability and medical condition, I have a limited ability to work. I am still learning to do things for myself at home and I can’t take on a part-time job yet.

A litter of Australian Cobberdogs was born this month (February 2026), chosen for their calm nature, intelligence and ability to be trained as therapy and assistance dogs.

If we can raise the funds, my assistance puppy can come home in April. We have a breeder, assessor and specialised trainer ready to help us choose the best dog for me based on my needs. We are being very careful to ensure that we find the best dog for me because this is a long term commitment.

How the funds will be used:

Funds raised will help cover the cost of purchasing, training and caring for my assistance dog during the first 1-2 years:

• $6,000 – Purpose-bred Australian Cobberdog for therapy assistance

• $20,000 – Specialised assistance dog training and assessments (including temperament testing and Public Access certification so it come everywhere with me and reduce my stress in busy environments)

• $8,000 – Veterinary care, insurance, food and grooming

Total fundraising goal: $30,000

These costs reflect the true expense of raising and training a dog to safely support someone with complex medical, sensory and anxiety needs.

If I can raise the funds I will call my dog FIG / FIGGY. It’s Nicknames will include Figgy-Boo, Figster and Figaro.

Any support means the world to me. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this page — you never know who might see it.

We created an Instagram account to share our journey of bringing Fig home to train it to be the best support for me. I’ll also share what it’s like living with autism and blindness in a world made mostly for people who can see and regulate their nervous system. You can follow our journey here: Kenzie, Figgy & Me - www.instagram.com/kenzie_figgy_and_me

Below is a photo of the litter that was born on 4th Feb 2026. If none of these puppies past the test as being suitable for me, we will wait until a new littler is born. We are taking this very seriously.

Thank you so much for any support you can offer.

With love and gratitude,

Mackenzie & Tanya (my mum)