Help a disabled vet get a life saving service dog.

While I was in the Air Force, I was diagnosed with depression, which led to my bipolar diagnosis in 2013 after a three-week hospitalization. This diagnosis didn't just end my military career; it also ended my civilian career. I was 35 and had just graduated from NYU with a Master's Degree. To say I was shocked was an understatement. Within a year of my diagnosis, I was bankrupt and homeless, with only my meager VA benefit as income. In 2016, I was diagnosed with PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma. Fortunately, I was able to stay with my father until I recovered. However, I could no longer work and took the best action to apply for Social Security Disability and request an increase in my VA disability benefits. Recently, I had a flashback that nearly cost me my life. My parents became concerned about my erratic behavior and called 911 to conduct a wellness check on me. I was escorted to the hospital, where I was treated and released. This incident made me and my family consider getting a service dog to mitigate my symptoms of both PTSD and bipolar because I was alone with my five-year-old when it happened. My medical team agreed that I would benefit from a service dog. I looked at several organizations that help veterans get service dogs, but many only cater to combat veterans. Because of my illness, I was considered non-deployable. Therefore, I served my country stateside by providing Global high-frequency radio support to medivac aircraft during Operation Iraqi Freedom. So, finding a service dog was challenging. But I found one. His name is West, a full-breed German Shepherd from the Pro Canine Center, who will train him to cater to my specific needs. These include escorting me to safety while disorientated, applying deep pressure therapy to treat anxiety, and distracting me when I have a flashback or a nightmare. And this is where I need your help. Because I can no longer work, earning money is difficult for me. I am raising $40,000 to pay for West, his training, transportation to train with him, dog supplies, medical expenses not covered by the VA, and childcare costs to train with West. If you cannot donate, please forward this to as many people as possible, or you can donate your time. I plan to work with several non-profit organizations to organize fundraising events. If you would like to volunteer or be a sponsor, please get in touch with me. If you like to follow my journey with West, please follow me on [email redactado]a.

I appreciate your help.

Alessandra Alma