Vinessa's Jazmine Project & MCD

Gina Sanford is organizing this fundraiser.

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Vinessa was recently diagnosed with a rare immunological Mast Cell Disease.

Vinessa's Labradoodle Jazmine is undergoing training to become a service dog. Jazzy will help with medical alert, peanut detection, and deep pressure therapy. Vinessa is also being referred to a Mast Cell Disease specialist so that we might better understand her condition and hopefully find a more effective medical care plan.

Mast Cells are cells in the body that control histamine and are largely responsible for allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. They are found in all tissues and are essential for correct functioning of the body. Vinessa's mast cells are not functioning properly and cause frequent "allergy like" symptoms. Symptoms of Mast Cell Disease vary, but can effect every bodily function and can change over time.

Mast Cell Disease is rare occurring in fewer then 200,000 people in the United States.

Vinessa experiences life threatening idiopathic anaphylaxis because of her Mast Cell Disease. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. It typically causes an itchy rash, throat or tongue swelling, shortness of breath, vomiting, light headedness, and low blood pressure.

There is no cure for Mast Cell Disease

Vinessa has experienced 29 anaphlyactic reactions in the past five years. Between May 2017 and January 2018 Vinessa has had 10 anaphylactic reactions and had to be admitted to the hospital for several days during the last flare.

Currently, her condition has worsened to the point she can no longer attend school and has been moved to a home bound program.

She is being referred to the University of Colorado Research Complex in Aurora, Colorado at the beginning of March. She will be there for a week or longer for testing and evaluation.

Jazmine is going to enter board and train service dog training to complete the remaining portion of her training as quickly as possible.

Our hope is that with the medical expertise found at the University of Colorado we can find a care plan that allows Vinessa to return to school and all of life's activities that she enjoys. Jazzy will be an intricate part of Vinessa's independence. When she is fully trained she will be allowed to go anywhere Vinessa goes. Her ability to alert for help if Vinessa has a reaction and detect peanuts (which is Vinessa's most serious trigger) will be a life saving tool!

Service dog training and Mast Cell Disease treatment comes at a large financial cost.

Donations to Vinessa’s Jasmine Project will help greatly!

GoFundMe Campaign Donations will go directly towards Jazmine's service dog training expenses and the cost of our trip to the Mast Cell Disease specialist in Colorado.

Here's the break down of expenses

Jazmine's service dog training
Public Access Board and Train=$1,500
Advanced Public Access and Task Training = $3,000
Service Dog Vest, Leash, and Patches = $100
Dog Booties=$35
TOTAL: $4635

Colorado travel expenses
Fuel: $400
Lodging: $945
Food: $1050
Total: $2,395

We are determined to help Vinessa with this medical struggle and we know we wont do it alone!