Maddie's Seizure Detection Dog
Donation protected
Everyone tells me that moms, especially mama's that have special needs children, are the worst at asking for help, but after searching for other plausible answers we are only left with one solution for Maddie and that is a seizure dog.
My daughter, Maddie, has been diagnosed in the last 10 months with epilepsy. We thought we had all of her medical diagnosis figured out, and then this tricky diagnosis started. We have since found a wonderful neurologist in Houston, Texas, and have learned that Maddie has focal seizures in six different parts of her brain. This means Maddie's eyes rolls back, she gazes, or her face stiffens when having the seizures, they are not the "grand-mal" kind that many of you may have seen.
However, recently, Maddie has started having seizures at night. Any mother already sleeps with one eye open at all times, and this has proven the case continually with Maddie in the last month. This past week, we have learned that Maddie is having prolonged seizures at night and we are completely unaware and unable to notice that she is having them. The doctors have informed us that a seizure dog is the only way that we will be able to help Maddie and be able to tell if she is having the focal seizures in her sleep. The scary thing with Maddie's type of seizures is any seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes can have brain damage, and at night we aren't sure how long they are lasting.
We have found an amazing breeder close by that breeds dogs and gives them certain tests that make them equipped to be service dogs. We have also been in touch with a trainer, who would train the dog to sleep in Maddie's room each night. This dog would also be with her all day to recognize her scent when she has a focal seizure coming on so that we be alerted and be able to time them in order to administer emergency medication if needed.
Those of you who may not know the whole background on Maddie, she was born with a rare chromosome deletion that no one has survived past age 4. Maddie turned 8 this summer! :) Maddie continues to beat the odds in every way possible with the help of friend's and family's prayers and care.
I know the goal amount we are reaching for is very large. I was appalled at how much a seizure detection dog costs, and insurance will not cover it. If you can donate anything, even a small amount, our family would truly be grateful as it would get Maddie on the right path to sleeping better at night, and giving us the peace of mind that someone is watching over her while she sleeps. Thank you in advance!
My daughter, Maddie, has been diagnosed in the last 10 months with epilepsy. We thought we had all of her medical diagnosis figured out, and then this tricky diagnosis started. We have since found a wonderful neurologist in Houston, Texas, and have learned that Maddie has focal seizures in six different parts of her brain. This means Maddie's eyes rolls back, she gazes, or her face stiffens when having the seizures, they are not the "grand-mal" kind that many of you may have seen.
However, recently, Maddie has started having seizures at night. Any mother already sleeps with one eye open at all times, and this has proven the case continually with Maddie in the last month. This past week, we have learned that Maddie is having prolonged seizures at night and we are completely unaware and unable to notice that she is having them. The doctors have informed us that a seizure dog is the only way that we will be able to help Maddie and be able to tell if she is having the focal seizures in her sleep. The scary thing with Maddie's type of seizures is any seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes can have brain damage, and at night we aren't sure how long they are lasting.
We have found an amazing breeder close by that breeds dogs and gives them certain tests that make them equipped to be service dogs. We have also been in touch with a trainer, who would train the dog to sleep in Maddie's room each night. This dog would also be with her all day to recognize her scent when she has a focal seizure coming on so that we be alerted and be able to time them in order to administer emergency medication if needed.
Those of you who may not know the whole background on Maddie, she was born with a rare chromosome deletion that no one has survived past age 4. Maddie turned 8 this summer! :) Maddie continues to beat the odds in every way possible with the help of friend's and family's prayers and care.
I know the goal amount we are reaching for is very large. I was appalled at how much a seizure detection dog costs, and insurance will not cover it. If you can donate anything, even a small amount, our family would truly be grateful as it would get Maddie on the right path to sleeping better at night, and giving us the peace of mind that someone is watching over her while she sleeps. Thank you in advance!
Organizer
Mallory Faith
Organizer
Denham Springs, LA
