My name is Klarissa McIntire, and my family and friends are helping me raise $17,000 for a psychiatric service dog.

Here is my story…

When I was about 13, I noticed I was struggling in school. I could do the work just fine, but I was extra sensitive to the noise and crowds at school, and feeling big emotions became more and more scary.

I am number 11 of 12 children. My mom and dad know from experience—and they have told me—it is normal for a person in their early teens to often feel anxious and depressed, but they noticed it was different for me.

I talked with my parents about getting tested for autism. I felt like it would help me understand myself better and to not judge myself so harshly for being different.

After some tests at Primary Children’s Medical Center, I was diagnosed at age 14 with Level 1 autism. That used to be called “high-functioning” when it came to people on the spectrum.

Level 1 means I can do many things a neurotypically brained person can do, but it also means I don’t often present as a person on the spectrum.

I am now 16, and in addition to being on the spectrum, I often experience high levels of anxiety and depression, and thoughts of hurting myself are a constant for me.

I go to a therapist regularly, and he has given me strategies to help me cope with my difficult feelings, and my psychiatrist has prescribed medications to also help regulate my emotions.

My providers have also recommended that I get a trained service dog to be my companion and help me feel safe. This can make a big difference for me.

For one, having that dog will help me have a reason to get up in the morning and something to look forward to each day.

Most important, a service dog would be one thing that can help me feel tethered to this earth when nothing else does.

Thank you for reading my story. Watch the video above to learn more about me and why a service dog will make a difference as I learn to live in the adult world.

Will you help me raise the money to get a dog to be my companion? The total amount, $17,000, will cover the cost of the dog, its veterinary care, its basic and advanced training, equipment, and some ongoing expenses to make sure we take care of the dog properly.

I look forward to having this new friend help me.

With love,

Klarissa