A few months ago, my friend Sarai made a difficult decision to make public some details about her daughter Isabella that she had previously kept private. She did this in order to get help for Isabella; specifically, to ask for help with the costs of training a service dog for Isabella. As you will see when you read Sarai's letter, a service dog could make a tremendous difference in Izze's life. Sarai, an awesome single mom, could use help meeting her share of the expense of training Izze's dog. If you are so led, you can donate at Izze's chipin page or at Great Lakes Assistance Dogs with "River & Izze" in the memo line.
Here is her letter.
Dear Friends:
Many of you know that my daughter Isabella, who just turned 8 years old, has special needs. Most of you don't know that, among other things, she has been struggling with significant mental illness for many years.
When she was 3 years old, she became panicked on the school bus ride to preschool. She wasn’t just scared of being separated from me; she was having horrifying hallucinations. On the bus to preschool, dead squirrels threatened her. At night, she believed lions were consuming her from the feet upward as she lay in bed. Because of this, as well as her violent tendencies, at 3 1/2, she was placed on an anti-psychotic drug also used as a mood stabilizer. Putting my child on such strong drugs was a heart wrenching decision, but her hallucinations and anxiety were becoming more debilitating. Medication was, and still is, a life saver, but Izze needs more support then medication can provide.
Over the years, Izze has been given a variety of labels including Mood Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder. Regardless of what label her medical and educational team is operating under, the reality is that this is a little girl with a host of emotional, academic, and interpersonal challenges and needs.
I have worked very hard to put together a support system of caring, brilliant experts for Izze. She is followed by a leading child psychiatrist, has an ongoing relationship with one of the first psychologists to work with oppositional and mood disordered children in Michigan, and her school team is composed of multiple dedicated professionals. But even this extensive team is not enough.
Izze is entering third grade in the fall. She ended second grade with a kindergarten-level reading level, and an equally low math level. She has daily inter-personal conflicts. Last year she started leaving the classroom without permission, twice making it to the edge of the school property before she was caught. Izze has aid support in the classroom, and academic support outside the classroom, but her daily school experience is one of frustration and dread. She actively hates school.
Although Izze doesn't officially have an Autism diagnosis, her various symptoms and behaviors combine to present a picture of a child with high-functioning autism. Although she is verbal, she often does not use the skill to effectively communicate with other people in her environment. Similar to an autistic child, she has a strong need for a structured, routine environment; change creates feelings of fear and/or anxiety. She exhibits serious behavioral issues including, at times, self-injury.
In my research I have found and tried many therapies, diets, and other programs to help Izze manage her aggression and anxiety. A year ago, I came across an article written by the mom of an Autistic child about how the child's Autism Support Service dog was changing their life. The mom talked about her son gaining greater independence, increased communication, and an increase in friendships. Her child was able to experience more academic success and was having fewer behavior problems both at school and at home. I was fascinated by her story and began to research how dogs can help Autistic children.
As they meet their dog partners and develop a close bond, an unconditional, unconventional, and a miraculous loving friendship is developed and with each day passing, grows stronger, bringing along with it a chance that the child may transfer their new social relationship to the humans in their environment as well.
Service Dogs for children with Autism can also be trained to get help when it is needed, draw attention to a child’s name being called, keep a child from wandering into roadways, help find a child that is lost and lead her safely home. Furthermore, the therapeutic relationship that is cultivated between dog and child has the capacity to attenuate anger, aggression, and mood swings.
I researched service dog organizations and decided to apply to Great Lakes Assistance Dogs. In June, Izze was approved for an Autism support dog and we have been puppy raising "River" in our home for 5 weeks. At Great Lakes Assistance Dogs it costs $25,000 to train a service dog from start to finish. The cost of a service dog is paid for with private donations and public contributions. Families are asked to raise a portion of the expenses before the training begins. After training has started, the family is required to make monthly installments. The average cost for families is $12,500.
This is where you come in, how you can help Izze gain greater independence, social, and academic success!
Please consider donating to Izze's service dog fund. You can donate through Izze's Chipin page. Any donation, regardless of amount, brings us closer to all the success and joy Izze can begin to experience in the world.
I am grateful to you for reading this, and please share my letter with friends and family. Together, we can make the dream of a service dog for Izze a reality.
Sarai
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