Service Dog for Wendy Neville

Wendy and Sam met in kindergarten, and lost touch for many years. When they reconnected years later, so did their hearts and they quickly fell in love.

Wendy, bright and brilliant, had a top job in I.T.

Sam worked for a prestigious communications company and they were building a life together.

They were out for an afternoon drive three years ago, and a drunk driver hit them. In an instant their lives changed dramatically. Wendy now lives with a traumatic brain injury. As a result, she is unable to work.

At first there was much hope but unfortunately, while she looks fine at first glance, she is struggling with everything from memory recall, vocabulary, coordination, and basic daily executive functioning.

I cannot even describe to you how devastating it has been watching our vibrant, talented friend become disoriented and lost. If it's snowing, for example, the snow will mess with her vestibular system and she will be suddenly unable to walk. She calls this 'getting stuck' (because she has a positive attitude) but frankly no human deserves to be stranded alone in the snow or the rain because their body suddenly won't move.

Sam, has been incredible of course. They have been incredible to each other. But Wendy cannot be left alone. She cannot go to her medical appointments by herself. She cannot drive. She is not expected to regain any of these functions. (Oh, and if you knew how independent she was before, you would realize how devastating this has been for her heart.)

Sam has many unsolved medical challenges, too. But the most pressing thing is that even though they have been EXTREMELY resourceful with their limited funds, budgeting to the penny, choosing needs over wants, and trying to decide whose medical bills are most important day to day, if she has any hope of building a new life, it has to come with some level of independence and dignity.

A service dog is a source of hope for her.

She's been wanting one for a couple of years now, but the cost is around $30,000 which is money that is unavailable to them with the heaping mounds of medical costs, appointments and medication. Some things ARE covered by insurance, but they must be paid out of pocket first, making planning ahead extremely difficult.

A service dog may allow Wendy to leave her home. Even a fresh walk around the block sounds like a vacation to her now. She will be able to go to and from appointments with the help of a service animal. She will be able to feel like Sam's partner again, his wife, his life-time love and his best friend. And they can focus on living this new normal, instead of spending more years trapped by the consequences of a drunk driver.

Please consider donating and sharing this fundraiser.

Whether you...

love Wendy and Sam,

love love

have or know someone who has been affected by drunk driving

appreciate service animals and the work they do

value independence

are simply a loving member of the human race who cares...

We thank you for your generous support!