Help Fund Lex's Service Dog

My name is Lex! I am 27 years old, and I am raising money for a service dog.

My Story:

Ever since I was a young child, I have been different. I began showing signs of obsessive-compulsivity, anxiety, depression, autism, and attention deficit by the time I was 6 years old. As a child, some of my earliest memories consist of visits to the children's hospital in Washington, DC, to have bloodwork and talk with professionals. I even participated in a clinical study.

As I matured, so did my mental disabilities. As a teenager, I spent many nights in various hospitals. One of my formative memories from this time includes me and my guardian sitting across the table from one of my providers. I was distressed. We wanted answers or at least solutions. The doctor looked at my guardian (not me) and said, "There is nothing I can do. They have been on every medication we have."

Now I am an adult, and I have managed to make a life for myself. I have learned how to drive, gone to college, and started a career in healthcare, which I love. However, my mental and physical disabilities and illnesses still impact me every day. As an adult, my symptoms have escalated to physical chronic illness characterized by tachycardia, chronic pain, joint pain, syncope, and several other mobility-related issues.

Last year, I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The specific type of PTSD I have has no medication available to treat it directly. My symptoms include heavy dissociation, catatonia, and flashbacks. Because of this combined with my other physically debilitating symptoms, my therapist and my primary care doctor began exploring the option of getting me a service dog.

What is a Service Dog?

A service dog is a dog that is trained to perform tasks that directly assist in a person's disability.

How Could Someone Like Me Benefit From a Service Dog?

For someone like me who is largely medication-resistant, talk therapy combined with other alternative treatments are necessary for me to live my life to the fullest.

Service dogs can be trained to perform psychiatric tasks which aid in relieving symptoms of PTSD and other psychiatric conditions. My dog will be trained to identify flashbacks before they happen and alert me to them so that I can make sure I remain safe. It will also be trained to interrupt dissociation and catatonia. It will be trained in providing deep pressure therapy, which aids in grounding and emotional regulation.

My dog will also be trained for cardiac alert and for several mobility-related tasks.

Why Fundraise for a Service Dog?

In order to provide me with the help that I need, my service dog will be required to go through intense training with a professional service dog trainer. Schools for training service dogs are extremely expensive and not typically covered by health insurance. I have been quoted $12,000 for the training of my service animal. This does not include the cost of caring for the dog, necessary gear, adoption fees, or vet visits and other health-related expenses for the dog.

Final Thoughts.

Having a service dog would drastically improve my quality of life. Once fully trained, the dog would be able to come with me to public spaces, including my job. This means that not only will I have the care and support I need in my home, but everywhere I go. Having my symptoms managed will allow me to continue to live independently and continue my career in healthcare working my dream job. Thank you for donating and sharing this fundraiser with your community.