RAISE THE WOOF- A SEIZURE DOG FOR #TEAMOWEN

This is Owen. Owen is a loving and energetic four and a half year old who has a mad love for hats, balloons and singing songs from big movie hits like Moana and Trolls. Like many typical 4 year olds Owen loves to build houses, play outside, swing, swim, have total control over most electronics and spend 90 % of his time oodling over his mom , Nicole. As the youngest of 4 beautfiul boys Owen has stolen many hearts (mine included), hes rambounctious and mischecious but has a smile that can melt hearts and when he loves- he loves so big. When Owen was just a few months old he experienced his first seizure. Unfortunately it was only the first of an insurmountable number of crippling seizures.  Nicole's life was brought to an abrupt hault, the single mom of four young boys (and all that entails typically), was also finishing her licensing to teach now had to learn to handle a life of seizures for a baby who had no voice. After many, many consultations, doctors, medication trials and tests, Owen was able to receive genetic testing. This testing showed an abnormality in the SCN1A gene , this is called Dravet syndrome. Dravet syndrome is a rare form of Epilepsy. While I can go on about the details of the syndrome the most important thing is this. Owen has never known anything other than seizures, he has spent countless nights in the hospital, missed holidays with his siblings, been given more medications than some recieve in a life time, sometimes combinations of medications that were given in attempt to stop seizures have caused him to have hallucinations. Owen has multiple seizures a day, of every kind. At a small 2 years old Owen had a port put in so he would be able to receive emergency medication fast in the hope's it would end his seizures quickly. This port was removed just this June as it failed to make a difference. Just 2 months ago owen was approved for a VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulator), he underwent surgery,  had the implant,  and they recently found out that,that is also failing.  When Owen isn't being prodded, tested or seizing, Nicole is fighting to keep him safe. Owen is triggered into seizures by just about everything,  bright light (including sun), hyperventilation, being over tired, anxiety, illness, excitement. He requires 1:1 attention at school, constant supervision at all times, attention to diet, sleep patterns, and precautionary measures to keep him from getting sick. Nicole's job of worrying for him never ends. Not only does she devote her days to public school teaching and caring for her students, she juggles all four of her wonderful boys, their sports, activities, appointments, and makes sure they have every experience and opportunity she can give. (She really is wonder woman... she'll deny it until the bitter end- but seriously... under her punny sweatshirts is a cape) This is our opportunity to help a superhero protect her child. Owen NEEDS a trained seizure dog, and they NEED our help to get him one. A trained seizure dog would provide Owen the ability to  walk across a yard, put his toes in the water or sleep in his own bed. It would allow Owen as he grows to have some independence, it would give Nicole a chance to breathe. Seizure trained dogs assist in alerting others during a seizure, keeping their person safe during a seizure, retrieving emergency med packs, and providing stability. The cost of a seizure dog is upwards of 30k.  I'll give that a minute to sink in... 30.thousand. dollars. (Or more). No child deserves to live a life where all they know is Epilepsy. No parent deserves to fall asleep worrying that they wont know if that child will seize during their sleep. No siblings deserve to worry about their brother every moment of every day. Every child deserves endless love, the ability to sleep safely and the chance to be a kid. Our goal is to raise enough money to help with the cost of the trained dog and travel, with the help of donations, Grant's, and fundraising.  Can you help us be their hero ?  Donate, share, spread the word. Every penny counts!  #raisethewoof #teamowen