This project will bring peace and comfort to the family of a little girl named Ann who has a rare form of epilepsy called PCDH19 female epilepsy. The goal is for her to live a little more like other girls her age, yet always having an extra set of watchful eyes on her. Seizure response dogs are a special type of service dog, specifically trained to help someone who has epilepsy. CHF is currently fundraising to be able to provide a grant to Ann and her puppy in training, Carver.
Ann's family lives in a constant state of exhausting worry and stress. It is difficult to allow her to be a normal little girl because her parents are always on guard because seizures come so quickly. Carver, is currently in training will be used to alert Ann's parents when a seizure is occurring, retrieve rescue meds and be with her to offer both comfort and reassurance throughout her seizures.
This project will allow a little girl to be a little girl. Carver, Ann's seizure-response service dog, will allow her the opportunity to do things that other girls her age can do and will help keep her safe by being her constant companion. While it can't be guaranteed, the hope is this team will bond to a point where her service dog will have the ability to alert Ann's family ahead of a seizure so they can brace for what is to come.
Our goal is to get life-saving measures in line for all who could benefit from them. By raising SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy) awareness, our hope is to get epilepsy research on the radar. Most believe that if you have seizures you can take a pill and be cured. Truth is that only 1/3 of those with seizures are controlled by medication. For many, multiple seizures are an every-day part of their life. 1 in 26 will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime.
