Ruby's Seizure Alert & Assistance Dog
Donation protected
My name is Ruby. I am 15. I was born with nocturnal epilepsy, which means I have seizures in my sleep, sometimes 20-30 severe ones in one night. Epilepsy is an invisible illness; people don't see how scary and hard the nights are, which in turn makes the days hard because my parents and I can be exhausted from being up all night. The medications have a lot of side effects, too. I can feel very anxious, confused, depressed, and overwhelmed. Just getting through the school day feels like an Olympic effort. Socially, I can feel very isolated. My friends and their families can feel uncomfortable having me over. Camping, sleepovers, travel and other things kids take for granted require a lot of preparation and supervision.
When a multitude of seizure monitors failed to alert my parents to seizures, my neurologist encouraged us to apply for a seizure alert and assistance dog. She said it was the only foolproof way to consistently detect seizures. One year ago, I started researching and saving money. Soon enough, we applied to and were accepted by our first choice of facilities: Assistance Dogs of the West in Santa Fe, NM. https://assistancedogsofthewest.org
During our second visit, I was matched with an amazing black lab named Hachi. Two trainers are teaching her how to respond to my seizures and how to alert my parents. She is also trained to protect me during a seizure and to help calm me in the aftermath--a very stressful time. Within the year she'll be able to detect a seizure before it happens.
Hachi will allow me to have much more freedom, privacy and independence; I won't need a parent to sleep on my floor and others can rest easy on a school trip or sleepover because Hachi will take the night watch. But a well-trained service dog costs about $8k out of pocket, not including travel expenses for my intensive sessions with Hachi and her trainers. I have been saving money for over a year and have $3k in the bank, but need another $5k to bring Hachi home at the end of summer, when she will be ready to complete approximately 90 commands, plus provide me comfort and companionship. Every little bit will help me achieve this dream, and even allow me to imagine going to college on my own some day. Thank you for your interest!
P.S. Assistance Dogs of the West can always use financial support, too--so they can help more kids like me!
When a multitude of seizure monitors failed to alert my parents to seizures, my neurologist encouraged us to apply for a seizure alert and assistance dog. She said it was the only foolproof way to consistently detect seizures. One year ago, I started researching and saving money. Soon enough, we applied to and were accepted by our first choice of facilities: Assistance Dogs of the West in Santa Fe, NM. https://assistancedogsofthewest.org
During our second visit, I was matched with an amazing black lab named Hachi. Two trainers are teaching her how to respond to my seizures and how to alert my parents. She is also trained to protect me during a seizure and to help calm me in the aftermath--a very stressful time. Within the year she'll be able to detect a seizure before it happens.
Hachi will allow me to have much more freedom, privacy and independence; I won't need a parent to sleep on my floor and others can rest easy on a school trip or sleepover because Hachi will take the night watch. But a well-trained service dog costs about $8k out of pocket, not including travel expenses for my intensive sessions with Hachi and her trainers. I have been saving money for over a year and have $3k in the bank, but need another $5k to bring Hachi home at the end of summer, when she will be ready to complete approximately 90 commands, plus provide me comfort and companionship. Every little bit will help me achieve this dream, and even allow me to imagine going to college on my own some day. Thank you for your interest!
P.S. Assistance Dogs of the West can always use financial support, too--so they can help more kids like me!
Organizer and beneficiary
Ruby McHarg
Organizer
Norwood, CO
Devin Vaughan
Beneficiary