Help Taylor get her Seizure-Alert Dog, Mercy

Hi, my name is Taylor Rothenbuhler, and I’m reaching out with a full heart and a hopeful spirit. I’ve been living with epilepsy for several years, but two weeks ago, I experienced the most severe seizure that I have ever had. It was a terrifying moment. I collapsed hard onto the floor with no warning. My family watched me hit the floor unconscious and rushed to help, but we were all very shaken from the incident.

These seizures come without warning. I’ve suffered cuts, bruises, and head injuries over the years, and despite medical help, we’ve never been able to predict when the next one will strike. My seizures are classified as tonic-clonic, and to this day, the cause is still unknown.

Until recently, I was thriving. I was working at a nutrition shop, training for my first bodybuilding competition, and pursuing a degree in Business Administration. I was building a future I was excited about. But this last seizure changed everything. Since then, my family hasn’t left my side, terrified of what might happen if I have a seizure alone.

We’ve been through so much as a family. Just last fall, we lost my stepbrother in a tragic motorcycle accident. His sudden passing shattered our hearts. The grief still hangs heavy over us, and now, after my last seizure, my family is terrified of losing another child. The fear they carry every day is something no one should have to feel and that’s why we’re trying to bring some peace and safety back into our lives.

After many conversations, prayers, and thoughts, we’ve decided the best path forward is to get a seizure-alert dog. We’ve found the perfect match: a beautiful Golden Retriever named Mercy. He’s been professionally trained to detect and respond to seizures, alerting others, providing comfort, and even helping prevent serious injuries. Mercy will allow me to reclaim a sense of independence, knowing that I won’t be alone when the next seizure happens.

Service dogs like Mercy are truly life-saving companions, but they come with a high cost due to the intensive training they receive. Mercy is $20,000, significantly less than the typical $30,000 price tag, but still a steep amount for my family, especially after everything we’ve endured this past year.

If you can help in any way, whether it’s donating, sharing this page, or simply offering words of support, please know it means the world to us. Mercy isn’t just a dog. He represents hope, safety, and a chance at a more independent life. He also gives my family a way to breathe again, to worry a little less, and to begin healing from all that we’ve lost.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading, sharing, and supporting this journey.

With love and gratitude,

Taylor Rothenbuhler

#MercyForTaylor #EpilepsyAwareness #ServiceDogSupport #InMemoryOfTristin