Medical Service Dog for Daylin

Hello, for those of you who may not know me, my name is Daylin. A little bit about me and my life. I am 21 years old, living on my own, and a full-time student studying at MacEwan University for my Bachelor of Design, and I could really use your help.

A little over four years ago, I was in the passenger seat of a five-car pile-up on Highway 16 and sustained my first major whiplash concussion. I did what anyone would have done and listened to those around me. I got some rest in a dark room and saw a physiotherapist for quite some time, but unfortunately, the story doesn’t stop there. For about the next 10 months, my symptoms continued to worsen, and at my age, I assumed I would start to heal with more rest and recovery through my training and conditioning. Later, I would find out my body had no clue how to heal itself from a concussion, and I was suffering from post-concussion syndrome. My symptoms continued to worsen as my life as a high school senior continued to speed up; I was working and training in my sport more and more competitively. I pushed myself past the pain, and because the pain had gone on for so long, I assumed everyone experienced the same thing in their own day-to-day life. I struggled with pain management, taking up to 17 ibuprofen daily to try and find some middle ground for myself.

I found out the hard way the life I was living was unsustainable as one day while working, I fell to the ground, getting my second concussion and falling unconscious. After the hospitalization I saw a few different specialists, went through a handful of medications, treatment options and home remedies to try and get myself back on my feet as well as proper time to rest. I went back to work. Shortly into a new job, my symptoms were back and worse than ever, and the dizziness became a hazard. I was then put on medical leave at the age of 18 for 9 months until the company fired me. Over those 9 months, I searched for answers, more medications, more treatments and more rest. I fell into the same circle again and again. I went back to work at a new job, which was slower-paced and had fewer hours. I inevitably had to leave behind that job to focus on my schooling full-time.

I currently have been diagnosed with both my brain injury and a form of dysautonomia called POTS, both with no cure, both disabling, and both that have an effect on the ins and outs of my daily life. Which is why I am hoping to have a medical service dog aid me through these challenges as some of their tasks include heart rate alert, help with my balance, aid through medical episodes and providing an overall increase in safety while I am both at home and out and about. The list of improvements that a service dog could have on my life is exponential, and I have had my doctor prescribe one to me and found a program to match the tasks I am looking for. I have seen the wonders these dogs perform, the blessing they are first hand, and to have this support system physically next to me at school, at appointments and through medical episodes would truly change my life.

Unfortunately, this fantastic opportunity for a service dog is an expensive one, and I have done over half of the saving myself; however, the urgency for an improvement in quality of life is now more than ever, and I wanted to reach out to my friends, family and community for help. If you cannot donate, thank you for reading my story. I appreciate you all! Jesus loves you!

-Daylin & Future Fluffy Friend