Hi Everyone,

My name is Presley, and I’m fundraising and raising awareness for my Medical Alert Seizure Detection Service Dog.

As many of you know over the past year I’ve been struggling physically and mentally with some health issues. I moved out to Alberta for work back in 2022 however, I hit my head last year while at my job. I thought at the time it was just a minor concussion and I’d be back to work again by morning, but that wasn’t the case. I woke up the next day in the hospital not aware of what was happening. I have had concussions in my past however this time it triggered some complications and my life hasn’t been the same since.

Since August, I’ve spent several days and nights in different hospitals, seen many specialists and doctors, underwent numerous tests and scans and clinics. I’ve recently been diagnosed with seizures disorder, a condition that affects your level of consciousness and causes temporary uncontrollable muscle movements/convulsions. My team of clinicians are still trying to find a cause for the seizures, although we’ve been able to learn different triggers for them, we do not know if they will ever go away. I have been instructed to continue taking my numerous epilepsy and anti-convulsing medications as well as attending my medical appointments and assessments to locate the cause and make my condition more manageable.

There are times I get enough notice to find a safe area before my seizures happen, unfortunately there are many times I do not have the time to react let alone know when I am having one. They can stem from simply loosing consciousness and staring off, to my muscles going completely limp and collapsing, to losing control of my body and bodily fluids and convulsing on the floor, car rides or even movie theatres etc. As a result, due to the lack of warning, safety measures were put in place to keep myself and others safe, one of these being restricting my drivers license and limiting certain activities.

I have been trying to adapt the best I can however it’s been very challenging when living on my own. Some days I make progress, some days my body decides to work against me and seizes up. In my specific case, due to the unpredictability nature of some of my seizures, and since I live on my own, I do not always have someone available to support me in getting to a safe area, I risk physical injuries to myself especially falling and enduring additional head injuries.

Having seizures can be very stressful and embarrassing especially in public waking up to strangers and/or paramedics in close proximity when I am already feeling vulnerable and exposed. I’ve experienced many different types of seizures in the past year, and although I’m more comfortable with them and my triggers, I still at times feel self-conscious and helpless. For months in the early stages, I decided to stay home, leaving the house only for doctor appointments and walks. It was tolerable at first as I was isolated in another city away from friends and family, although over time it took a toll on my mental health. I rarely put myself out there to see others or engage in strenuous activities because I did not want to risk having a seizure around anyone, friends or strangers. It was and can be difficult to do day to day tasks I used to take for granted such as going to the grocery store/ mall, having large group functions, going for a hike or even seeing a movie at a movie theatre.

I’ve been doing lots of research with the help of some loved ones of mine and have found a medical aid that can assist me not only obtain my drivers license back but more importantly assist me in my day to day life again. This would allow me to have the confidence and reassurance to go out in public settings, engage in different activities and even just as simple as living on my own again.

Dina is currently a 1 year old partially trained Medical Alert Seizure Detection Service Dog. Dina is currently receiving training from VIK9 Assisted Human Services Society to help indicate and detect the changes in my body chemistry (through a scent training) that precedes an episode of a seizure. This advance notice allows me to utilize my medications to minimize the intensity of the episode, get to a safe position to minimize any injuries and alert/seek the support of bystanders. During the seizure and recovery, Dina is training to assist me when I have difficulties breathing by providing compression on my chest, and trying to wake me up out of it by using stimulation. When I gain consciousness, she is beside me or on top of me, minimizing the anxiety and effects of the seizure .

Dina has been receiving proper training for many months and has passed several tests to receive her Certified Service Dog Level Two. Several more tasks need to be achieved through work and training to be able to pass her final test which requires 90% proficiency in detecting and responding to my seizures. Unfortunately for this type of training it can and has been very expensive. All in by the end of her training, Dina’s costs are just over $37,000.

As the need for my service dog was a result of a work place injury, I have been seeking the support and acceptance of Workers Compensation Board (WCB) to support in her payments. For those of you who have been through the process of dealing with WCB, you would know it’s a very long, strenuous battle with them that involves jumping through their hoops and checking all their boxes.

I’m learning more and more as months go by to not only accept this diagnosis but to learn more about living a life with it rather than hiding from it. I can’t change what happened to me but I can alter how I move on with my life and not let it hold me back any longer. It is a learning process not only for myself but also for those who want to be there for me. Having Dina by my side provides me with the confidence I haven’t had in a while and the ability and hopes to one day be able to achieve a balanced life again.

For those of you who know me, know I strongly dislike asking for help from others; I am usually the helper. Unfortunately with my dad passing unexpectedly this year, and covering the costs for his private viewing and his debt while on a subsidized income, I have had difficulties fulfilling the remainder of her payments. Since May this year I have managed to pay just over $10,000 to date for her training and fees.

If any of my story resonated with you or someone you know and is something you’d be interested in learning more about or assisting please reach out to me or consider helping contribute to her costs. Any amount is greatly appreciated. Please do not feel pressured at all to contribute that is not what this page is about, it is solely a space for me to finally open up and share my story with others; a story and a part of my life that I was scared and ashamed of for so long. My seizures may be a part of me now, but l am not allowing them to define me.