Conrad is a bright and resilient 5-year-old who has faced more challenges in his short life than most do in a lifetime. As a twin to his brother Cooper, Conrad was born with Spina Bifida, which affects his mobility due to nerve damage in his spine. He uses a wheelchair to help with lower extremity weakness and also lives with Hydrocephalus and Autism. Most recently, Conrad was diagnosed with severe Epilepsy, which has brought new and urgent challenges to our family.
Conrad’s seizures are life-threatening and have required ICU admissions and intubation because he is unable to breathe on his own during these episodes. The seizures have only happened at night, which is terrifying for us as parents. We now take turns sleeping with him every night, constantly checking to make sure he is safe. We are scared and exhausted, but determined to do everything we can to protect him. After researching options, we learned that a service dog could provide Conrad with both mobility support and medical alert capabilities, giving us an extra layer of security and peace of mind.
The funds raised will go directly to Dog Training Elite of Cincinnati, covering a multi-step program that includes basic obedience, mobility, and medical alert training. This training will take years to complete and will also cover equipment and vet care to ensure the dog is fit to serve Conrad. We chose this company because other special needs families we know have had positive experiences with their services. Our family is working toward the full cost of training and care for Conrad’s service dog, and every bit of support brings us closer to making this life-changing difference for him. A very scary reality for us is that seizures as severe as Conrad's can be fatal if not treated quickly. We have rescue medications available but must call 911 immediately when we discover him seizing. This dog would absolutely change our lives, providing the security we desperately need and helping Conrad navigate the mobility challenges he was born with. We would move mountains for our son to be safe and cared for, and your support would truly change our lives for the better.
Conrad’s seizures are life-threatening and have required ICU admissions and intubation because he is unable to breathe on his own during these episodes. The seizures have only happened at night, which is terrifying for us as parents. We now take turns sleeping with him every night, constantly checking to make sure he is safe. We are scared and exhausted, but determined to do everything we can to protect him. After researching options, we learned that a service dog could provide Conrad with both mobility support and medical alert capabilities, giving us an extra layer of security and peace of mind.
The funds raised will go directly to Dog Training Elite of Cincinnati, covering a multi-step program that includes basic obedience, mobility, and medical alert training. This training will take years to complete and will also cover equipment and vet care to ensure the dog is fit to serve Conrad. We chose this company because other special needs families we know have had positive experiences with their services. Our family is working toward the full cost of training and care for Conrad’s service dog, and every bit of support brings us closer to making this life-changing difference for him. A very scary reality for us is that seizures as severe as Conrad's can be fatal if not treated quickly. We have rescue medications available but must call 911 immediately when we discover him seizing. This dog would absolutely change our lives, providing the security we desperately need and helping Conrad navigate the mobility challenges he was born with. We would move mountains for our son to be safe and cared for, and your support would truly change our lives for the better.