Paws To Help

Cole is making a plea for help. He can sometimes be a prisoner in this life - in his own body and in his own home. We have found a key that might help to unlock some of the doors that were closed to him before. It's not a crazy surgery or a new medication...it's a dog.

Service animals have been around for a long time and most people associate them with those who are blind. There are many types of service animals, but the one we are specifically interested in is called a Seizure Alert dog. This dog could change our lives in SO many ways.

Let's be honest, the last few years have not been all sunshine and roses. We have looked for the bright spots and have cherished each "good day" along with the bad. Cole's seizure types have increased dramatically from the two types when he started having seizures, to over 6 different types that we can classify right now. His brain never gets a break as it is usually actively seizing, preparing to seize, or recovering from a seizure. Through this all, Cole has beaten the odds and learned how to walk and talk. In January of this year, he could not speak and now he is forming sentences. He continually impresses his therapists and has a very charming personality. However, there has already been regression as his primary diagnosis, Dravet Syndrome, has predicted.

A dog could be specially trained to meet Cole's needs and give him independence that he could never have experienced otherwise. It could also comfort him when he is at the hospital, or after seizures. It could intervene when he is having meltdowns and help to calm his behavioral outbursts, which have been occurring with more frequency than ever before.

Cole has poor impulse control and will run into the street without thinking twice. He knows how to unlock and open doors and has let himself out on multiple occasions. He needs constant supervision. A service dog can be trained in tracking and could find Cole if he escaped.Brian and I have not slept in the same room for over a year. When we attended the IDEA League Conference in August, we noticed that the majority of people raised their hands when a speaker asked the question, "Who sleeps with their child?" The reason is for SUDEP (Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy). Kids with Dravet have a greater risk of dying for "unexplained reasons". Most of these deaths occur while they are sleeping. More than a few parents have suffered unimaginable grief when their child has passed away in their sleep. Hopefully, this dog can replace either mom or dad in the next bed and give Cole some independence. We would still keep all of the monitors and alarms on, but he could feel like a "big boy" and sleep alone. The dog might even alert us early if there is going to be a problem, and we could be there to help. Dogs can also be trained to go and get the rescue medication, so the person assisting the child does not have to leave them to go in search of meds.

Cole cannot attend school at this time. Even with a nurse or 1:1 aide, groups of people and new environments are triggers for his seizures. If he felt supported and calm by having his dog with him, he could have the opportunity to interact with other kids and learn in a structured environment. Our living room can be distracting with its piles of toys and the television :) This new member of our family could help us in so many ways.

We are having a walk to raise money and awareness so we can make this dream come true. "Paws To Help" will take place at Liberty Park at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 23. We would love for everyone to come and join us. Bring your dogs and your sunglasses!! Cole can only be outside for a short period of time if he wears special glasses.

If you can't make it, you can always donate at Cole's fundraising page. Send this link to your families and friends and help Cole to become as independent as possible. If you have a blog or facebook page, you can copy the widget on our sidebar to share! Thank you for "pausing" to read our story.