Service Dog for David

I have been honored with knowing David Axelrod for almost a decade and in 2017 he became my brother-in-law. He is one of the most caring and compassionate people I know. David has always gone above and beyond to help others. David has always struggled with medical issues. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 13 years old and, due to this, had brain surgery. David has struggled with neuromuscular issues and chronic pain throughout his life. He has been to several specialists and finally, about three years ago, David was given a definitive diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome.

You may be wondering, “What is Stiff Person Syndrome?”

Stiff person syndrome (SPS) is a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms may include extreme muscle stiffness, rigidity and painful spasms in the trunk and limbs, severely impairing mobility. Spasms can generate enough force to fracture bone.
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/5023/stiff-person-syndrome


Since SPS is so rare, there aren’t any organizations dedicated to fundraising or support. SPS is progressive in nature and David will continue to deteriorate as he gets older. David currently struggles with completing everyday tasks like using the stairs, carrying items, picking up items and getting up from a seated position. David has very intense sleep cycles, which cause him to fall asleep easily and be difficult to wake. David has slept through smoke detector alarms before, which I am sure you can agree is a very scary situation. There are not many treatment options for the condition. David was receiving a treatment multiple times per week through IV injections but unfortunately developed severe side effects last year, which caused him to need hospitalization. David takes several medications daily to help manage the condition but none of them will help reverse the condition or help him live a normal life.

One thing that would help is a Service Dog. A service dog would allow David to maintain his independence and provide him with companionship. David has been a dog lover for many years and he grew up with dogs. The service dog will be trained to assist David with his needs and help him to continue to live independently. David is connected with a local training organization to ensure that the dog is properly training to assist David with his needs and become the quintessential service dog.

Unfortunately, service dogs aren’t covered by health insurance and to properly train a service dog can cost upwards of $30,000. David has already been looking at potential matches through local rescue organizations. The optimal companion would be an adult large breed dog around 2 years old.  We are hoping to help David with some of these costs so we can make this a reality for him.

Thank you for all of your support!