Fundraiser For Little Angels Service Dogs
Tax deductible
Dear Family and Friends:
As many of you know (and some don’t since we haven’t been “publicly” discussing it until now), Kirsten has been experiencing numerous injuries and health issues in recent years. About 6 months ago, after more than three years of exploring and testing, we learned that she has a rare, incurable, genetic, connective tissue disease called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (commonly known as EDS.)
EDS is classified as a syndrome not a disease because it effects connective tissue and therefore can manifest itself in nearly any/every major body function – heart, lungs, limbs, eyes, etc. So, no two EDS patients present symptoms exactly the same, which makes it very difficult to diagnose and treat. This syndrome is also challenging because it is “invisible,” eg, many EDS sufferers appear completely normal on the outside so those around them don’t understand that they are suffering inside. Because of all this, more than 80% of EDS sufferers also end up with anxiety and/or depression, in addition to their physical ailments.
One of the things that “EDSers” have found that helps are service dogs. Most service dogs for EDS sufferers perform two core functions: mobility aid and emotional support. For Kirsten specifically, although she remains positive, her abilities, independence and quality of life have taken a serious hit. Therefore, we have decided a service dog would be an important life support for her, accompanying her everywhere and assisting her not only with walking, balancing, using the stairs, etc. but also providing reassurance and comfort along with medical alerts.
After much research, we have chosen to work with Little Angels Service Dogs. Sadly, tax regulations, equity issues and the need to find exactly the right dog for each recipient mean we can’t just “buy” one outright and receive it next month. It’s a process and could easily take more than 1 year. And the organization can’t even start looking for the right dog for a specific recipient until the full amount required to cover the costs of raising and training a dog are covered. That’s $38,000 per dog for this organization. We’ve raised $9,500 for Little Angels thus far, so we need to raise at least $28,500 more. That’s where you all come in!
The faster the funds are raised, the faster Little Angels can buy and train more dogs. NO AMOUNT IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL!
Thanks in advance for any/all your support – past, present and future. It’s been a really hard year but we feel blessed to be surrounded by such an amazingly supportive group of family and friends.
With love and gratitude,
Kirsten’s family
As many of you know (and some don’t since we haven’t been “publicly” discussing it until now), Kirsten has been experiencing numerous injuries and health issues in recent years. About 6 months ago, after more than three years of exploring and testing, we learned that she has a rare, incurable, genetic, connective tissue disease called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (commonly known as EDS.)
EDS is classified as a syndrome not a disease because it effects connective tissue and therefore can manifest itself in nearly any/every major body function – heart, lungs, limbs, eyes, etc. So, no two EDS patients present symptoms exactly the same, which makes it very difficult to diagnose and treat. This syndrome is also challenging because it is “invisible,” eg, many EDS sufferers appear completely normal on the outside so those around them don’t understand that they are suffering inside. Because of all this, more than 80% of EDS sufferers also end up with anxiety and/or depression, in addition to their physical ailments.
One of the things that “EDSers” have found that helps are service dogs. Most service dogs for EDS sufferers perform two core functions: mobility aid and emotional support. For Kirsten specifically, although she remains positive, her abilities, independence and quality of life have taken a serious hit. Therefore, we have decided a service dog would be an important life support for her, accompanying her everywhere and assisting her not only with walking, balancing, using the stairs, etc. but also providing reassurance and comfort along with medical alerts.
After much research, we have chosen to work with Little Angels Service Dogs. Sadly, tax regulations, equity issues and the need to find exactly the right dog for each recipient mean we can’t just “buy” one outright and receive it next month. It’s a process and could easily take more than 1 year. And the organization can’t even start looking for the right dog for a specific recipient until the full amount required to cover the costs of raising and training a dog are covered. That’s $38,000 per dog for this organization. We’ve raised $9,500 for Little Angels thus far, so we need to raise at least $28,500 more. That’s where you all come in!
The faster the funds are raised, the faster Little Angels can buy and train more dogs. NO AMOUNT IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL!
Thanks in advance for any/all your support – past, present and future. It’s been a really hard year but we feel blessed to be surrounded by such an amazingly supportive group of family and friends.
With love and gratitude,
Kirsten’s family
Organizer
Perry Yeatman
Organizer
Annapolis, MD
Little Angels Service Dogs
Beneficiary