Disability to Pawsability
Donation protected
Most who know us, with the exception of most people we’ve met in Kohler, know Taylor lived through a horrific, near fatal drowning accident before we left Hawaii in July 2016. We will never know how or why it happened but the recent seizures Taylor had lead neurologists to believe the incidents are related. Either a seizure caused the drowning or the seizures she’s had are a result of the drowning.
In Jan/Feb Taylor had three seizures that we witnessed- all focal seizures that caused facial twitching, speech paralysis, and drooping of the face on one side. She has been coherent enough to know something is wrong but has no recollection of the episode after it’s over. As a parent, it’s horrific to watch. To see her experiencing something I have no control over and can do nothing about it to help but watch and console her. So far, we’ve had a 1-hr EEG, an MRI, and will spend St. Patty’s Day weekend at Children’s hospital doing a 24-hour EEG to monitor her brain for seizure activity throughout the day and night. I’m thankful for the care we’re receiving but not lining up with doctor’s recommendations for medications. There are A LOT of side effects to these medications and it’s possible Taylor could outgrow these seizures by adulthood, only time will tell.
Seizures are almost as common as asthma, yet so misunderstood by the medical field. There are a lot of medications available but it’s a HUGE guessing game, trial and error, adding/removing new medications until doctors are able to find one that works with your body. A lot of times kids are on a few medications before they are able to actually control the seizures, and even then its not 100% (nothing is).
Taylor had three seizures in a matter of about 2 weeks that we were witness to. We considered a service dog to monitor her seizures but the dogs range from $18-30k and there is no guarantee they will be able to detect the seizures. It’s a heavily debated topic but most believe all dogs are either born with the instinct or not and has more to do with how well they are bonded to the individual.
That being said, we have decided to invest in a service dog for Taylor to help with her severe anxiety; a companion that will be able to join her wherever we go, including her overnight stay in the hospital next month. We found a perfect fit, a three-year-old golden retriever from Illinois that is being retired from a breeding program but always kept inside and loved as a pet for the family. Between the adoption price and necessary training that she will have to go through to certify her as a service dog for Taylor, we are hoping to lean on our friends and family to help cover some of the cost. I can’t tell you how disgusting it feels asking for help in this way but I know my daughter will benefit from a service dog and there is nothing I wouldn’t do to help her. Even if it means swallowing my pride, completely humiliating myself and being as vulnerable as I can possibly stand.
In Jan/Feb Taylor had three seizures that we witnessed- all focal seizures that caused facial twitching, speech paralysis, and drooping of the face on one side. She has been coherent enough to know something is wrong but has no recollection of the episode after it’s over. As a parent, it’s horrific to watch. To see her experiencing something I have no control over and can do nothing about it to help but watch and console her. So far, we’ve had a 1-hr EEG, an MRI, and will spend St. Patty’s Day weekend at Children’s hospital doing a 24-hour EEG to monitor her brain for seizure activity throughout the day and night. I’m thankful for the care we’re receiving but not lining up with doctor’s recommendations for medications. There are A LOT of side effects to these medications and it’s possible Taylor could outgrow these seizures by adulthood, only time will tell.
Seizures are almost as common as asthma, yet so misunderstood by the medical field. There are a lot of medications available but it’s a HUGE guessing game, trial and error, adding/removing new medications until doctors are able to find one that works with your body. A lot of times kids are on a few medications before they are able to actually control the seizures, and even then its not 100% (nothing is).
Taylor had three seizures in a matter of about 2 weeks that we were witness to. We considered a service dog to monitor her seizures but the dogs range from $18-30k and there is no guarantee they will be able to detect the seizures. It’s a heavily debated topic but most believe all dogs are either born with the instinct or not and has more to do with how well they are bonded to the individual.
That being said, we have decided to invest in a service dog for Taylor to help with her severe anxiety; a companion that will be able to join her wherever we go, including her overnight stay in the hospital next month. We found a perfect fit, a three-year-old golden retriever from Illinois that is being retired from a breeding program but always kept inside and loved as a pet for the family. Between the adoption price and necessary training that she will have to go through to certify her as a service dog for Taylor, we are hoping to lean on our friends and family to help cover some of the cost. I can’t tell you how disgusting it feels asking for help in this way but I know my daughter will benefit from a service dog and there is nothing I wouldn’t do to help her. Even if it means swallowing my pride, completely humiliating myself and being as vulnerable as I can possibly stand.
Organizer
Laura West
Organizer
Kohler, WI
