Support Harper's Journey to Seizure Safety

For those of you who don’t already know Harper, we would like to introduce you to our brave and beautiful 12-year-old daughter. Harper is a bright, creative, and spirited young girl who loves to swim, watch Dance Moms, go to the mountains, and spend time with her friends and family. She was initially diagnosed with epilepsy in 2022. At that time, her seizures consisted of eye flutters and moments of absence. However, over the past couple of months, she’s begun experiencing tonic-clonic seizures (previously known as Grand Mal)—episodes that are as terrifying as they are dangerous. After the first seizure, Maddox found Harper unconscious in her bathroom floor. Sean made his first 911 call as a parent, and Harper was taken by ambulance to Brenner Children's Hospital. Since then, Harper has continued to have tonic-clonic seizures. We are diligently working alongside her doctor to figure out what has changed and how it can be addressed to hopefully decrease the amount of seizures she is having and keep her safe.

For Harper and our family, the unpredictability of these seizures has been overwhelming. It’s hard to explain the fear that grips us as parents, knowing that at any moment, Harper could lose consciousness and fall victim to a seizure. The constant worry is something no family should have to endure, and yet, we find ourselves navigating this challenging new reality every day.

As a family we do have some safeguards in place such as a video monitor that monitors her sleep and alerts us to any potential seizure activity during the night. We have also installed an app on her watch to alert of any potential seizure activity during the day. However, it still doesn’t feel like enough. We have decided, as a family, to seek out a service dog specially trained to assist with epilepsy. These incredible animals can sometimes detect the onset of a seizure before it happens, which could provide Harper precious seconds to find a safe place or alert someone nearby for help. Beyond the life-saving assistance during seizures or immediately after, a service dog would provide Harper with companionship, confidence, and a sense of security.

But as you may know, training a service dog is an intensive and expensive process. The cost for a trained dog can range anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000—an amount that is simply beyond our reach and a waitlist of 1-4 years.

We have opted for a more affordable option which includes purchasing a puppy and going through the training process as a family. However, the upfront costs are still more than we can reasonably manage given her other medical bills and urgency we feel to set this plan in motion. No family wants to ask for help, but we could never have imagined we would find ourselves in this position. This is why we are turning to you, our community, for help.

With your generosity, we can give Harper the gift of safety, independence, and a more normal life. Your donation, no matter how small, will go directly toward securing a service dog for Harper, covering the costs of training, veterinary care, and other essential expenses.

We know that times are tough for many, but if you can find it in your heart to help Harper, we would be eternally grateful. Even if you can’t donate, sharing this story with others would mean the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, support, and prayers. With your help, Harper can face the future with courage, knowing she has a loyal companion by her side.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The Key Family