Help us Raise $20,000 for a Service Dog for Lenny, Amtrak Derailment Survivor
On May 12, 2015, Lenny Knobbs boarded Amtrak Train 188 in Philadelphia to head to work in New York City. On that fateful day, the train’s engineer steered the train into a curve at 106 mph - more than twice as fast as the speed limit – resulting in a horrendous crash leaving eight dead and 200 injured
Lenny Knobbs, devoted father and husband, survived the accident but was among the few passengers that were left critically injured.
Lenny will never work again. His physical injuries have left him unemployable. While many of the joys in life have been taken away from Lenny, doctors and experts in this kind of trauma believe a service dog will greatly help Lenny triumph over this adversity.
We need your help to raise the $20,000 for Lenny to gain a new lease on life through the help of a trained canine friend.
About Lenny’s Injuries
As a result of the accident, Lenny suffered a severe concussion, broken back, four herniated discs, four broken ribs, severely bruised lungs, a broken leg with torn ACL, MCL, MCL, and meniscus. The severe concussion proved to be a traumatic brain injury, leaving him with numerous ailments that continue to plague him to this day. Constant migraine headaches and severe dizziness are just two of the chronic medical issues that have disabled Lenny to the point where the simplest of day-to-day activities (such as driving a car) are impossible for him.
PTSD
Another notable ailment that Lenny suffers from is a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Most of us associate PTSD with the mental implications of military combat. It is important to understand that PTSD can result from exposure to many traumatic events, such as sexual assault, threats on a person’s life, and in Lenny’s case, a horrific traffic accident. PTSD has crippled Lenny is a dreadful way. He experiences extreme night terrors which only allow him to sleep just a few hours a night at best. His survivor’s guilt, a mental condition that occurs when a person perceives themselves to have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not, has left him in a deep state of depression. Since the accident, Lenny has worked with countless doctors and therapists. While he is receiving treatment, Lenny will suffer from his injuries for the rest of his life.
Lenny’s personal financial situation has also suffered tremendously. His ability to collect disability has expired and contrary to what many people assume, Lenny has received no financial compensation from Amtrak. The financial relief that he desperately needs will be tied up in court for several more years.
Why a Service Dog?
The physicians treating Lenny at the University of Pennsylvania hospital believe a service dog will be life-changing for Lenny. There is a considerable amount of scientific evidence proving that an expertly trained canine can improve the quality of life for individuals that have been critically injured. One particular study has demonstrated that 82% of those with a PTSD diagnosis reported symptom reduction after partnership with a service dog. Another 40% reported that their use of medication decreased.
Service Canines are specially trained for PTSD and in assisting with emotional overload to bring people back to the "here and now.” They provide a buffer or a shield to the person in a crowded place by creating physical boundaries.
Specifically for Lenny, having a service dog can help extinguish the flashbacks that haunt Lenny, essentially making him realize he is in the present moment. They can orient a person during an anxiety or panic attack. One incredible benefit would be that a Service Dog can sense if Lenny is going to have a night terror and wake him up before the night terror happens.
Many of the benefits of owning a Service Dog extend beyond having the dog's assistance with certain tasks. Such benefits are inherent in the human-canine relationship and often include:
Relief from feelings of isolation.
An increased sense of well-being.
Daily structure and healthy habits.
An increased sense of security, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and purpose.
Mood improvement, and increased optimism.
Lenny’s family has identified an agency that can assist him in acquiring a Service Dog… but it will be very expensive. The costs of acquiring, providing veterinary care, a two-year training program, and caring for a Service Dog approach nearly $20,000! Worker’s compensation will not alleviate any of these costs.
Lenny is a very proud individual but he has come to the realization that in order to purchase a Service Dog… he will need public support.
Lenny has been through an imaginable trauma. As a father and husband he is desperate for a way to go on. Please consider Lenny’s situation and if you are able, please donate to Lenny’s Service Dog Fund. Thanks in advance for helping Lenny find his new best friend.
On May 12, 2015, Lenny Knobbs boarded Amtrak Train 188 in Philadelphia to head to work in New York City. On that fateful day, the train’s engineer steered the train into a curve at 106 mph - more than twice as fast as the speed limit – resulting in a horrendous crash leaving eight dead and 200 injured
Lenny Knobbs, devoted father and husband, survived the accident but was among the few passengers that were left critically injured.
Lenny will never work again. His physical injuries have left him unemployable. While many of the joys in life have been taken away from Lenny, doctors and experts in this kind of trauma believe a service dog will greatly help Lenny triumph over this adversity.
We need your help to raise the $20,000 for Lenny to gain a new lease on life through the help of a trained canine friend.
About Lenny’s Injuries
As a result of the accident, Lenny suffered a severe concussion, broken back, four herniated discs, four broken ribs, severely bruised lungs, a broken leg with torn ACL, MCL, MCL, and meniscus. The severe concussion proved to be a traumatic brain injury, leaving him with numerous ailments that continue to plague him to this day. Constant migraine headaches and severe dizziness are just two of the chronic medical issues that have disabled Lenny to the point where the simplest of day-to-day activities (such as driving a car) are impossible for him.
PTSD
Another notable ailment that Lenny suffers from is a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Most of us associate PTSD with the mental implications of military combat. It is important to understand that PTSD can result from exposure to many traumatic events, such as sexual assault, threats on a person’s life, and in Lenny’s case, a horrific traffic accident. PTSD has crippled Lenny is a dreadful way. He experiences extreme night terrors which only allow him to sleep just a few hours a night at best. His survivor’s guilt, a mental condition that occurs when a person perceives themselves to have done wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not, has left him in a deep state of depression. Since the accident, Lenny has worked with countless doctors and therapists. While he is receiving treatment, Lenny will suffer from his injuries for the rest of his life.
Lenny’s personal financial situation has also suffered tremendously. His ability to collect disability has expired and contrary to what many people assume, Lenny has received no financial compensation from Amtrak. The financial relief that he desperately needs will be tied up in court for several more years.
Why a Service Dog?
The physicians treating Lenny at the University of Pennsylvania hospital believe a service dog will be life-changing for Lenny. There is a considerable amount of scientific evidence proving that an expertly trained canine can improve the quality of life for individuals that have been critically injured. One particular study has demonstrated that 82% of those with a PTSD diagnosis reported symptom reduction after partnership with a service dog. Another 40% reported that their use of medication decreased.
Service Canines are specially trained for PTSD and in assisting with emotional overload to bring people back to the "here and now.” They provide a buffer or a shield to the person in a crowded place by creating physical boundaries.
Specifically for Lenny, having a service dog can help extinguish the flashbacks that haunt Lenny, essentially making him realize he is in the present moment. They can orient a person during an anxiety or panic attack. One incredible benefit would be that a Service Dog can sense if Lenny is going to have a night terror and wake him up before the night terror happens.
Many of the benefits of owning a Service Dog extend beyond having the dog's assistance with certain tasks. Such benefits are inherent in the human-canine relationship and often include:
Relief from feelings of isolation.
An increased sense of well-being.
Daily structure and healthy habits.
An increased sense of security, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and purpose.
Mood improvement, and increased optimism.
Lenny’s family has identified an agency that can assist him in acquiring a Service Dog… but it will be very expensive. The costs of acquiring, providing veterinary care, a two-year training program, and caring for a Service Dog approach nearly $20,000! Worker’s compensation will not alleviate any of these costs.
Lenny is a very proud individual but he has come to the realization that in order to purchase a Service Dog… he will need public support.
Lenny has been through an imaginable trauma. As a father and husband he is desperate for a way to go on. Please consider Lenny’s situation and if you are able, please donate to Lenny’s Service Dog Fund. Thanks in advance for helping Lenny find his new best friend.
Organizer and beneficiary
Elizabeth Morris
Beneficiary