April 5th, 2023. The day that changed our lives forever. I, Juliana, Savannah's mom, was 10 days postpartum with my son when my little girl had her first seizure. I quickly rushed to the hospital with my 10-day-old, while Savannah was taken by ambulance, distraught and alone. Since that day, Savannah has been in and out of the hospital more than some people will ever go in their whole lifespan. She has been suffering from focal seizures that we can’t get controlled by medication. This poses a constant threat to her safety and well being. Additionally, we discovered that Savannah has permanent brain damage caused by periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). This is a lack of oxygen to the brain at birth, which we were previously unaware of.

One of our fears is that Savannah’s seizures most often happen while Savannah is sleeping. Unfortunately, our largest scare to date was one night while we were not by her side. Savannah fell into what they call status epileptic and had 17 seizures within 3 hours. Savannah was transferred to a hospital an hour and a half away from our home. Where they had to sedate her while endlessly working to stop the seizures. This is why we barely sleep anymore.

After extensive research, we have learned that a service dog trained in seizure detection could be life-changing for her and quite literally save her life. These specially trained dogs can detect oncoming seizures, alert us to immediate dangers, and even provide comfort and support during and after an episode. A service dog would offer Savannah increased independence, safety, and a better quality of life. It would also bring our family much-needed peace of mind, knowing that Savannah has an additional layer of protection and support.

While we are applying for grants, service dogs are extremely expensive. We ask if you can please donate and help with this life-saving animal not only for Savannah but for our entire family. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and will keep you updated on the progress.

We truly appreciate your support and generosity

May God bless you and prayers are requested if you're unable to donate.