A seizure dog to protect Jessica
Donation protected
A mother's heart...
Beats for her children. My name is Angie Nix and I am a mother of two children, Jessica and Michael. I have spent the past 25 years living and breathing for them. I am a strong, successful woman with many personal accomplishments. Nothing that I have done in my life compares to raising my children. I have lived the 4 most recent years as an empty nest mom who does not live in the same state as my children. I still live and breath for my kids, but my heart beats across the country.
It is is a difficult adjustment when a mother's role as protector of her cubs is no longer needed. I have a difficult time even writing that sentence. Not needed? I accept that my kids have grown, started their own lives, and have even married, I am confident that they have learned from me, their dad, and both of their step parents important lessons to carry them into adulthood. I am confident that my kids are good people and I have done my job well. That does not change my mothers instinct to protect.
I say say all of this because my daughter has reminded me of her strength and independence. I will explain that statement in a moment, but first....
I started this GoFundMe page for my daughter, Jessica. She lives with seizure disorder. As an infant Jessica had a non-cancerous brain tumor that was successfully removed. She had a number of neurosurgeries through age 5. As a result, Jessica's seizure disorder is caused by scar tissue on her brain.
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the United States. The epilepsy foundation page has a very informative fact page that you can view here http://www.epilepsymichigan.org/page.php?id=358 .
Until recently, Jessica's seizures have been 100% controlled by her medication. Many families who are affected by seizures are not so lucky. I acknowledge this fact and am grateful for our blessings. Although Jessica has lived with seizure disorder for 20 years it has only been the past 4 months that her medicine is not fully controlling her seizures. My protective instincts prefer the 100% controlled situation that until recently I took for granted.
I started this page because one way to satisfy my need to protect Jessica would be to provide her with a seizure detection or a seizure response dog. These dogs are amazing, but it can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 for a trained seizure dog. Again, I refer you to the epilepsy foundation for details http://www.epilepsy.com/get-help/staying-safe/seizure-dogs
Now, going back to my earlier statement that Jessica reminded me of her strength and independence.....
I have edited this campaign to what you are currently reading. Originally, I told a story of what I have been through with Jessica's health and all of the details that prompted me to start this page. I typed out my experiences of living with fear for my daughter's health, safety, and at times her life. It's funny, when a mother tells a story of her own life including raising her children, she is also telling her child's life story. There's a blurry line between whose life is being told. The truth is we have both lived it. My kids are my heart and our stories are one.
Whether or not I am able to raise enough money for a service dog for Jessica, ultimately whether she goes forward with getting one is HER decision. If you choose to donate toward this cause I can promise you this:
1) If not enough money is raised for a service dog, all of the money raised will be donated to the epilepsy foundation.
2) If there is enough money raised for a service dog, Jessica will be faced with a decision.
3) If she decides to take advantage of the love, support, and generosity that you have shown I will keep you updated as to the progress of the dog in training and Jessica's experience once they are placed together.
4) If Jessica should choose not to go forward with a service dog, all of the money raised will be donated to a service dog training program that is recommended by the epilepsy foundation so that a child may have a much needed protector.
I pray for all of the families that live with seizure disorder. Especially those who experience seizures that medicine cannot control. Thank you for your support and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Angie
Jess on her wedding day, June 10, 2015
Jess at 4 months old, just a few weeks after her 2nd surgery.
And below, just two days after her tumor was removed.
Beats for her children. My name is Angie Nix and I am a mother of two children, Jessica and Michael. I have spent the past 25 years living and breathing for them. I am a strong, successful woman with many personal accomplishments. Nothing that I have done in my life compares to raising my children. I have lived the 4 most recent years as an empty nest mom who does not live in the same state as my children. I still live and breath for my kids, but my heart beats across the country.
It is is a difficult adjustment when a mother's role as protector of her cubs is no longer needed. I have a difficult time even writing that sentence. Not needed? I accept that my kids have grown, started their own lives, and have even married, I am confident that they have learned from me, their dad, and both of their step parents important lessons to carry them into adulthood. I am confident that my kids are good people and I have done my job well. That does not change my mothers instinct to protect.
I say say all of this because my daughter has reminded me of her strength and independence. I will explain that statement in a moment, but first....
I started this GoFundMe page for my daughter, Jessica. She lives with seizure disorder. As an infant Jessica had a non-cancerous brain tumor that was successfully removed. She had a number of neurosurgeries through age 5. As a result, Jessica's seizure disorder is caused by scar tissue on her brain.
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the United States. The epilepsy foundation page has a very informative fact page that you can view here http://www.epilepsymichigan.org/page.php?id=358 .
Until recently, Jessica's seizures have been 100% controlled by her medication. Many families who are affected by seizures are not so lucky. I acknowledge this fact and am grateful for our blessings. Although Jessica has lived with seizure disorder for 20 years it has only been the past 4 months that her medicine is not fully controlling her seizures. My protective instincts prefer the 100% controlled situation that until recently I took for granted.
I started this page because one way to satisfy my need to protect Jessica would be to provide her with a seizure detection or a seizure response dog. These dogs are amazing, but it can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 for a trained seizure dog. Again, I refer you to the epilepsy foundation for details http://www.epilepsy.com/get-help/staying-safe/seizure-dogs
Now, going back to my earlier statement that Jessica reminded me of her strength and independence.....
I have edited this campaign to what you are currently reading. Originally, I told a story of what I have been through with Jessica's health and all of the details that prompted me to start this page. I typed out my experiences of living with fear for my daughter's health, safety, and at times her life. It's funny, when a mother tells a story of her own life including raising her children, she is also telling her child's life story. There's a blurry line between whose life is being told. The truth is we have both lived it. My kids are my heart and our stories are one.
Whether or not I am able to raise enough money for a service dog for Jessica, ultimately whether she goes forward with getting one is HER decision. If you choose to donate toward this cause I can promise you this:
1) If not enough money is raised for a service dog, all of the money raised will be donated to the epilepsy foundation.
2) If there is enough money raised for a service dog, Jessica will be faced with a decision.
3) If she decides to take advantage of the love, support, and generosity that you have shown I will keep you updated as to the progress of the dog in training and Jessica's experience once they are placed together.
4) If Jessica should choose not to go forward with a service dog, all of the money raised will be donated to a service dog training program that is recommended by the epilepsy foundation so that a child may have a much needed protector.
I pray for all of the families that live with seizure disorder. Especially those who experience seizures that medicine cannot control. Thank you for your support and God bless you.
Sincerely,
Angie
Jess on her wedding day, June 10, 2015Jess at 4 months old, just a few weeks after her 2nd surgery.
And below, just two days after her tumor was removed.
Organiser
Angie Nix
Organiser
Jacksonville, FL