<div>Karli and Daryl’s incredible son, Zakkary, faces extraordinary challenges every day as he lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Drug-Resistant Epilepsy. These conditions require constant care, and the family frequently travels to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary to manage his needs.
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<div>Today, on Zakkary's 7th birthday, we are launching this GoFundMe campaign to help bring life-changing support to him and his family. This special milestone serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength Zakkary shows every day, and we hope to give him the gift of greater independence and safety.
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<div>Zakkary is a sweet, intelligent boy who loves lining up Fisher Price figures, jumping on his trampoline, and spending time with his younger brother, Parker, when he’s feeling well. But his daily life is far from easy. He sleeps 15-20 hours a day, takes four anticonvulsant medications twice daily along with supplements, and faces sensory challenges that make everyday activities—like eating and attending school—extremely difficult. His modified school program allows him to attend for just 1-2 hours 4 days a week, but even this leaves him exhausted. He is also at high risk for SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), a constant source of worry for the family.
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<div><strong>Why a Service Dog?</strong>
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<div>After a lengthy application process, Zakkary’s family has been approved to receive a service dog from Aspen Service Dogs (<a href="https://aspenservicedogs.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://aspenservicedogs.com/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://aspenservicedogs.com/</a></a>). This will be life-changing for Zakkary and his family. The specially trained Labrador Retriever will take two years to complete training and will provide both Autism and medical response support. For Zakkary, this means:
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<li>Calming him when agitated
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<li>Assisting with sensory regulation and reducing anxiety
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<li>Alerting during seizures and helping him recover afterward
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<li>Providing companionship and safety, preventing bolting or self-harming behaviors
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<div>The dog will be trained not only to respond to Zakkary’s needs but also to give Karli and Daryl peace of mind, knowing they have an extra set of “hands” to help keep him safe.
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<div><strong>The Goal:</strong>
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<div>The estimated cost for the service dog and related expenses is roughly $40,000. This includes, but is not limited to:
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<li>$25,000 for autism-specific training
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<li>$5,000 for epilepsy-specific training
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<li>A week of hands-on family training in Edmonton
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<li>A week of training at home with the trainer
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<li>Ongoing costs like insurance, vet visits, and food
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<div>As family members of Karli, Daryl, Zakkary, and Parker, we see firsthand how resilient and strong they are. They face many daily challenges but never complain, always trying to find blessings in their day-to-day lives. We are asking for assistance on behalf of the family because they would never ask for help themselves. The costs of managing their daily lives—along with traveling to Calgary regularly—are adding up. With the additional expenses of adding a service dog to their family, we’ve turned to GoFundMe to help offset these significant costs and provide Zakkary with the support he needs to thrive.
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<div><strong>How You Can Help:</strong>
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<div>Any contribution, big or small, will help bring this life-changing support to Zakkary. If donating isn’t possible, sharing this campaign with friends and family would mean the world. Together, we can help Zakkary gain more independence and improve his quality of life.
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<div><strong>Thank You:</strong>
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<div>Your kindness and generosity will make all the difference for Zakkary, Karli, Daryl, and Parker. Thank you for being part of their journey toward a brighter, safer future.
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Leslie. and Joe Meli

Lori Andreachuk

Tony Mrak

Anonymous

Katie Antulov

Ashley Meli

Jennifer Scherer

Chantel Tillsley

Carmen Wheeler

Riccardo Magliocco

Modern Aesthetics

Carla Ferrari

Fletcher Jackie

Shylo Harvey

Cameron MacLeod

Robyn Morton

Lesley Egger

Christie Schipper

Robin Hyland

Help Zakkary Get an Autism-Epilepsy Service Dog

Help Zakkary Get an Autism-Epilepsy Service Dog

Still $18,809 to go. Help us build momentum.