Medical Service Pup for Patti!

Hello everyone! Some of you already know, but for those that don’t, I have been battling POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) since 2021 and I finally received my diagnosis over a year later.

POTS is an autoimmune disorder that effects your body’s ability to regulate autonomic functions like heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, digestion, and anything else your body should do on its own. As well as migraines, dehydration, chronic pain and extreme fatigue. With POTS I have good days and bad days. On good days, I can seem just like any other person and sometimes do a pretty good job keeping up. On bad days, I can barely move. The biggest struggle I face is with my heart rate and blood pressure. When I stand up too quickly or for too long my body begins to malfunction, sometimes with warning and sometimes without. When this happens my heart rate goes up and my blood pressure plummets and pools in my lower extremities, which can cause me to pass out.

So far medications are helping some, but with only being able to partially manage some of my symptoms, I need some extra help. After careful consideration, I believe that a service dog would make my daily life a lot easier and would give me a chance at more independence in the future. The most important tasks a service dog could offer is to alert me that my blood pressure is going down or my heart rate is too high before it is too late. The service dog would be able to help me with daily tasks, retrieving items I need and be able to keep me balanced on days when I need a little help staying upright. On days when I’m having more trouble and need my cane or rollator, the service dog could help me navigate through public areas.

Unfortunately, a dog this special is not cheap especially since I am allergic to most breeds of dogs and would need to get a pure bred that is hypoallergenic. I have quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to afford this without help. I truly believe that this dog could drastically change my life and how I have to do things but, between the cost of the dog and the dog’s training it would cost me around $15,000. I know that’s a lot to ask for, but anything helps me get one step closer, even if that’s a prayer.

I greatly appreciate your gifts in advance both monetarily and your prayers!

I will update you as I get closer to my goal and with each step in this process!

Thank you!