- J
- C
My name is Emily Heise. I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was young. At first, it wasn't too severe, mostly absence seizures that were hardly noticeable unless you knew what to look for.
At 15 I had my first grand mal seizure, the night before leaving to England for my brother's wedding. I spent many hours in the ER and barely made the flight the next day. Over the next several years I would have many more as doctors would experiment with different medicines, trying to work out a treatment plan. My seizures were sporadic and unpredictable. I even had one on a cruise on my senior trip.
Just before 20 I finally found a doctor who could help. She prescribed me the right medicines and everything was going great. I even got my driver’s license for the first time! With my new treatment plan I even stopped having grand mal seizures for a while.
Then in 2010 I had two seizures - one right before my wedding. Apparently my seizure medications are on a fragile balance and things like antibiotics or birth control can tip the scale. I can have a grand mal seizure with no warning. (picture of injury that happened during seizure)
I went a couple more years without having any grand mals which was great. I even had a baby during that time - she's three now! She's my little miracle.
However, in the past year and half I've had five grand mal seizures. When I have a grand mal it's very scary because I go completely unconscious and I don't come out of it on my own. I can't get help. I can't take care of my child. I need to be taken to the ER for IV seizure meds to even start to come out of it.
Having a seizure dog would help with this. The dog could help take care of me while having a seizure, and also alert the necessary people that I need help.
I don't have seizures frequently enough to qualify for financial aid or non-profit programs. But the severity and spontaneity of them warrants cautionary measures.
Why so much money, you ask? A dog surely doesn't cost $15,000! you say. You're right. Here's a breakdown of the expenses.
♥$8,500 for the specialized service training
♥$1,200-$2,000 for the dog (we need non-allergenic)
♥I will be required to fly out to Florida and back once the training is complete to be trained on how to work with my special new dog. The involves flight cost, food, board, etc.
♥Taking care of the service dog once we get him home. (food, vet, grooming, etc.)
At 15 I had my first grand mal seizure, the night before leaving to England for my brother's wedding. I spent many hours in the ER and barely made the flight the next day. Over the next several years I would have many more as doctors would experiment with different medicines, trying to work out a treatment plan. My seizures were sporadic and unpredictable. I even had one on a cruise on my senior trip.
Just before 20 I finally found a doctor who could help. She prescribed me the right medicines and everything was going great. I even got my driver’s license for the first time! With my new treatment plan I even stopped having grand mal seizures for a while.
Then in 2010 I had two seizures - one right before my wedding. Apparently my seizure medications are on a fragile balance and things like antibiotics or birth control can tip the scale. I can have a grand mal seizure with no warning. (picture of injury that happened during seizure)
I went a couple more years without having any grand mals which was great. I even had a baby during that time - she's three now! She's my little miracle.
However, in the past year and half I've had five grand mal seizures. When I have a grand mal it's very scary because I go completely unconscious and I don't come out of it on my own. I can't get help. I can't take care of my child. I need to be taken to the ER for IV seizure meds to even start to come out of it.
Having a seizure dog would help with this. The dog could help take care of me while having a seizure, and also alert the necessary people that I need help.
I don't have seizures frequently enough to qualify for financial aid or non-profit programs. But the severity and spontaneity of them warrants cautionary measures.
Why so much money, you ask? A dog surely doesn't cost $15,000! you say. You're right. Here's a breakdown of the expenses.
♥$8,500 for the specialized service training
♥$1,200-$2,000 for the dog (we need non-allergenic)
♥I will be required to fly out to Florida and back once the training is complete to be trained on how to work with my special new dog. The involves flight cost, food, board, etc.
♥Taking care of the service dog once we get him home. (food, vet, grooming, etc.)