Therapy Dog for Felix

Hello, my name is Felix and I am 5 years old.

When I was still in my Mom’s belly I was a healthy baby boy, until one day when the doctors realized I wasn’t getting any oxygen. To save me they had to perform an emergency C-Section, reanimate me, then put me in an induced coma for two weeks. The doctors told my family I wouldn’t make it, but my Mom and Dad wouldn’t leave my side. With their love I lived, but as a result of the lack of oxygen I suffered severe brain damage.

Since then I’ve seen many doctors and specialists who said I would never be able to move my arms and legs, swallow, breathe, or even experience the world around me. But thanks to my whole family I learned how to breathe on my own and move my arms and legs, but I still struggle with a few things like grabbing things or holding my head up on my own.

I also developed a very rare form of epilepsy that causes me to unlearn all the things I work so hard to learn, like swallowing and drinking, so I need a feeding tube to make sure I stay hydrated and get all my nutrients.

What scares my Mom and Dad the most is when I swallow funny, which happens often. Every time that happens I start throwing up and that makes me choke, so Mom and Dad are on high-alert day and night.

In my short life I’ve been to the hospital many times, and had some surgeries, but I try not to let it get me down because I am a fighter. My family calls me their little sunshine because I still find ways to smile.

I’ve been lucky enough to get to do horseback riding therapy and just love it because animals help me feel better.

Once during one of my hospital stays I was introduced to a therapy dog who made me very happy. I loved seeing his face so much that I even opened both of my hands and tried to reach out and pet him. You should have seen my Mom’s face; she couldn’t believe it!

My Mom and Dad saw how happy the therapy dog made me, and would like to get a dog just for me.

The dog would be trained specifically for me, to help:

- Pick things up and bring them to me in my wheelchair

- Let Mom and Dad know when I’m about to have a seizure

- Prevent me from choking by alerting Mom and Dad that I’m throwing up

- Accompany me to doctors’ appointments and hospital visits

- Make me feel more secure and confident

- Calm and relax me to prevent seizures and choking.

My very special dog will cost € 30,000.00 to train, and unfortunately is not covered by Mom's and Dad's insurance. If you can find it in your heart to donate, it would really help to make my life just a little easier as I keep fighting, and continue to be a source of inspiration for those around me.

Love,

Felix

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson