Help Jessi Get Her Service Dog!
Donation protected
My name is Stacey and I want to make sure that Jessi gets the help she needs as she transitions into this new phase of her life.
If you don't already know Jessi, she is one of the strongest women I have had the pleasure of knowing. We met in pole class over a decade ago and I've gotten to watch her grow as a pole dancer, athlete, mother, and human as we've worked closely together over the last few years together.
Right after she ran her first marathon in October 2021, she was experiencing difficulty walking and was soon diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This is a disease where the immune system attacks the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers. This causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. While Jessi is strong, this has been taking a toll on her ability to move and function in her daily life.
Jessi has recently been approved for a service dog, and will be picking up her new service dog "Falcon" on 4/2. Falcon is 8-weeks old and will start training within a week of Jessi picking him up. Jessi and Falcon were accepted into a training program at Compass Key. After consultation, it was estimated that the cost of training for her individual needs would likely be between 15k-20k, the cost of the puppy himself is 4k. This training cost (while still shocking) is actually below the average cost of service dog training. The cost of the puppy is high, but it's important to invest in the right dog for health and trainability purposes.
Here is exactly how Falcon will help Jessi:
- He will be trained to retrieve and carry items. This is important for Jessi daily as she gets dizzy bending down, has trouble carrying items when using the cane out, and her grip/muscle control in her right hand/arm in particular isn't always adequate. This skill set also enables him to help clean up, like putting toys in bins, bring her items from the fridge, remove clothes from the dryer etc.
- He will be trained for medical alert, to get help both in home, and in public if Jessi is to fall or experience a seizure like episode.
- Once his hips are more developed at age 2, he will receive additional training for mobility assistance. (He will be fully certified before this, but will come back to learn these additional skills). He will be able to help Jessi with balance, bracing to stand, and can pull a manual wheelchair when needed (Jessi's arm doesn't usually allow her to push herself long when this is needed).
- He will be able to help therapeutically as well in several ways, such as deep pressure therapy. Sensing when a break is needed and cueing Jessi to sit. Manage stress/anxiety which can decrease her symptom severity and flares. Some MS patients have even shown improved gait after being paired with a service dog.
Jessi also says that "Although I've improved greatly since being hospitalized, I'm still very far from where I was in January. I will likely improve a bit more, but it will continue to be up and down, and eventually my disease will progress over time, and I'll need this assistance more. Some symptoms are less visible than others, and some days I need more help than others, so he will be equipped to assist through "good days and bad days." I have especially increased symptoms at night, and sometimes simple tasks like getting undressed are difficult, which he can be trained to assist with!"
Thank you all so much for your support! And take a look at this cutie!
Organizer and beneficiary
Stacey Shapiro
Organizer
San Diego, CA
Jessica Ledbetter
Beneficiary