Therapy Dogs are more than just a friend – they are a life saver. Please help my daughter find independence and joy in her life again

Teenage years are tough for everyone. There will always be ups and downs. As parents we want to guide our children through these challenging years as much as we can. This is why I’m reaching out to help my beautiful daughter, Misha, who is going through a really hard time following the diagnosis of a life-threatening medical condition.

Last year, at the age of 12, Misha was diagnosed with Epilepsy. It was incredibly confronting for us both, particularly given the multiple traumatic seizures she experienced across many nights, requiring ambulance trips and hospital stays. I am so grateful she is now under a wonderful paediatrician at the RCH who provides guidance and treatment. However, this condition has taken a toll on Misha’s confidence and mental health. She lives in fear of having ongoing seizures and not having the independence that she needs to continue to grow with her peers.

Epilepsy is so unpredictable. Every night I sleep with her, alert to every twitch and tremor to ensure it is not another seizure. The stress of the unknown is draining, as are the side effects of the medication Misha needs to take - constant tiredness, anxiety, depression, increased appetite and memory loss. This condition has taken away her zest for life.

I want to give my daughter every opportunity possible to get some control back in her life and enjoy her teenage years. After hours of research, I have learned about the amazing impact therapy dogs can have on the lives of people living with Epilepsy. These wonderful dogs are specifically trained to predict seizures and assist by protecting their owner from serious falls and alerting those nearby if a seizure does occur. A therapy dog can help comfort a patient after a seizure, as well as being a positive distraction, a reason to exercise and motivation to get out of bed each day. I think it could be a gamechanger for us.

As a single parent I have had to shut my business of 16yrs to work closer to home to ensure my daughter gets the 24/7 care she needs to keep her safe. I have taken medical training to assist during seizures, I have educated myself with support of the Epilepsy Foundation, and I ensure Misha attends a psychologist to help as much as we can. However, the upfront cost of a therapy dog is beyond me right now, which breaks my heart as we have just been told there is a dog available that would suit our needs.

I would be eternally grateful if together we could raise funds to help keep Misha safe and happy.

The funds that we raise will be used to buy and train a therapy dog to be a certified assistant dog with and supply equipment and health needs for both Misha and her new best friend.

Thank you for taking to time to read our story.