Save Mic A Spoon

A dog. Our friend we come home to, to take walks with. The bonds we build are unique. They become our secret keepers, our best friends, our constant companions. They make us smile, relax and enjoy life. They protect and they love, unconditionally. This is what our animals do for us every day. Imagine a dog doing more. Imagine a dog giving back, bringing independence, bringing laughter and love, while providing safety and making sure someone’s health is managed and knowing what to do to save a life. A service dog might save Michaela's life. 

I am creating a fundraiser for my dear friend Michaela. Michaela is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. If you see Michaela, she will be helping someone in some form, whether it be that she is ensuring they are healthy and happy, checking with all of her loved ones to see how she can help them, arranging meals and rides for those who need them, showing everyone around her love and attention, or simply smiling at a stranger. Michaela is always the first one who will be there for someone in need, and is the last one to ask for help when she needs it. Michaela is loved by so many, and it is very hard for her to swallow her pride and ask for help, as she is always the one helping others.

Michaela has been struggling for some time with multiple disorders:  Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Hypertension (POTS), Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Intracranial Hypertension (swelling in my brain), along with numerous other secondary conditions. She struggled for years without a diagnosis leaving her to struggle everyday functioning. She was finally diagnosed in 2009 and 2011 with POTS and EDS and has been working with geneticists and other specialists since to help her cope with her symptoms and assist with her everyday life. Some secondary conditions that Michaela has developed since receiving these diagnoses are asthma, severe allergies, gastroparesis, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, vocal cord dysfunction, mast cell activation syndrome, and her intracranial hypertension (swelling in her brain) is now causing her to have vision issues as well as issues with basic muscle movement, loss of strength and increased nerve pain. Michaela deals with this pain unmedicated and is not able to take strong pain medications to assist with her pain. There are times that Michaela can’t feel her feel due to severe neuropathy, however, she does not let this stop her from getting out of bed and putting a smile on her face.

Despite everything Michaela faces medically, she is still working, still living independently, still getting up every day and living life. Michaela has had to recently largely rely on her support network of friends and those who help support her, love her and assist with daily functioning, but there are things that her support groups can’t always assist with. There are things that can make her daily living and functioning better, and at the forefront of these, Michaela is in severe need of a service dog to help her in her everyday life. She is in need of a service dog that will help with mobility (retrieving dropped items, opening doors, bringing out of reach items such as meds/phone etc.), as well as one to monitor daily functioning (heart rate, blood pressure, and able to summon help if she does become unconscious), and hopefully trained for seizure alerts, as epilepsy is now a large concern. This type of service dog is a challenge to find and is extremely expensive. Dogs with these specific abilities range from $32,000-$45,000 and there are waitlists for dogs and scholarships. A huge misconception is that if you are disabled, service dogs are free. This is sadly not true.

Michaela has found a breeder in Colorado, as well as a trainer to train a service dog to cater to Michaela’s specific needs. The trainer is willing to work with Michaela for a minimal cost, but it is still unreachable without help. This breeder has many successful therapy and working service dogs from her litters.  The trainer also is knowledgable and works well with understanding the right dog has to be the right fit. 

Michaela is very independent and can take care of her animals financially, however, she is unable to financially afford the upfront cost of a service dog that she so desperately needs to allow her to continue to live her own independent life. After working with the breeder as well as the trainer and any other means of assistance, Michaela still needs to come up with over $20,000 to obtain a service dog, a large portion of this would need to be obtained within the next two months to ensure that a dog is reserved and trained. This puppy will be hand-selected after all puppies from the litters have been tested for temperament and intelligence and work ethic. This means that the breeder and trainers will choose a dog that is sure to meet the needs of Michaela and they will work together to ensure that the dog knows how to do its job and assists Michaela with a high quality, independent life. Costs also will include traveling to work with the trainer.  There are so many other things that would help Michaela's functioning, but the dog is the first on the list.  

Please consider assisting sweet Michaela with obtaining a service dog, and with help, maybe even more. Hopefully, we can give back more.  Michaela has devoted her life to serving others. Help me give back to her by reaching the monetary goal for her to receive her much needed service dog (an angel with four legs), so she can carry on her independent way of life.