About 6 months ago we started the application process to getting a service dog for my husband Wyatt. Having found the brilliant 'Above the Standard Dog Training' team in Florida, we got put on the breeding wait list. Come November 2025 our full standard poodle puppy has been born! We are so excited about the prospect of what this poodle is going to do for our lives.

Ready for the backstory?

In July 2023, one month after our wedding, my husband Wyatt was hospitalized for several days. The cause was a stomach infection from living off nsaids due to chronic pain, and during this stay he suffered his first major seizure.

This started the rabbit hole of neurological diagnosis...landing us with a Hemiplegic Migraine diagnosis in August 2024. This is an extremely rare disease, affecting 0.01% in comparison to 15% who suffer with general migraines. It's extremely debilitating, mimicking seizures and strokes. Symptoms are unpredictable, long lasting, and progressive. Over time, the severity of the attacks can cause permanent damage. It's a genetic mutation that just so happened to pop up in Wyatt.

We spend a lot of time at doctors. Despite a whole rattle of daily medications, weekly IV treatments, regular botox and trigger shots...we still regularly end up in the ER for emergency assistance. But Wyatt still does not get any significant or lasting relief. Between the onset, main attack, and recovery period, Wyatt has not had a fully symptom free day in these last 18 months and the symptoms only continue to worsen. He has periods where he can't walk properly, loses use of his dominant arm, vomits uncontrollably, struggles to speak...and everyday he battles severe pain, nausea, sensitivity to light/sound. Most days he's only awake for a few hours.

As you can imagine, this has flipped our lives around. Wyatt is someone who always stayed busy. He loves hiking, scuba diving, playing guitar, dirt biking, farming, aviation, all manner of science experimenting. Now he's near housebound. As of now, someone always needs to be with him for support because he's been known to stop breathing or be stuck not able to get his medications. The caregiving is not something I can do alone. Thankfully we could move in with amazing family who step in everyday, but long term we need more.

Let's loop back to the dog...

While the main focus is having an early alert system (hopefully we can break the migraine cycles), Wyatt's service dog will allow him to have some independence back. He will be trained to act as a mobility aid, medication retriever, and also help with the mental strain that comes from being chronically ill. At this point having a service dog is our best hope for any lasting improvement with Wyatt's health.

We're looking at $2,500 for the breeding fee. Then $15,000 - $17,500 for the seriously skilled ATSDS training (this also includes all board and care). Then the cost of travelling for training sessions and any necessary equipment. Any remaining funds will go towards ongoing veterinary and maintenance costs. Despite being prescribed, there is no health insurance company that recognizes service dogs as 'medical devices' - they'll only class them as 'personal tools'. To compare, insurance would cover a hip replacement for up to $74,000 but this will be just as life changing. That's why donations are the way forward for anyone in our position.

It's a lot to ask. So thank you for reading this and thank you for even $1 you can contribute, it is all an enormous contribution to us. Thank you!