Service Dog for POTS and hEDS

I would greatly appreciate your support either financially or through prayers as I am trying to raise $20,000 to be able to afford a Golden Retriever puppy in order to train as my cardiac alert and mobility aid service dog.

Towards the end of 2023 I was diagnosed with two chronic illness called Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and Hyper-mobile Ehlers-danlos syndrome. Both of these conditions affect me everyday and in many different ways, which has limited my lifestyle. Due to POTS my body is unable to regulate my heart rate when changing positions, which can lead to fainting in dangerous situations, but majority of the time I just deal with racing heart, shortness of breath, tunnel vision, extreme fatigue, and migraines. Due to hEDS which is a connective tissue disorder I experience a lot of joint pain/discomfort on a daily basis which some days being worse than others. I am currently trying different medical aids to help improve my day to day life and that is where a service dog comes in.

I was excited to attend KSU for my second semester of sophomore year of college in person but had to switch to 100% online to accommodate my chronic illness. In doing this it has made scheduling appointments easier, reduce the amount of energy being used to walk around campus or attending class when I feel unwell, and help keep my heart rate from spiking to high levels. (Doctors say it is like your running a marathon by doing simple tasks) During my first social event on campus I was just sitting having pizza and enjoying conversation with people I had just met through a ministry group. My heart rate suddenly rose to 110bpm-120bpm-130bpm all the way to 149bpm. I knew I needed to get home, but was unable to voice my need as I was having an episode. With the aid of a service dog they would be able to alert me that I was having an episode, provide a task called Deep Pressure Therapy which helps bring the heart rate down, and signal others that something is not right. This situation helped us to realize how much my illness is going to affect me and how much help and relief a service dog would provide me and my family.

Some of the ways a service dog would be of use to me:

Alerting/responding to High Heart Rate - this makes me aware that my heart rate rises above 100 and I need to do something to bring it down.

Picking up Objects - Due to POTS picking something off the floor could cause me to become dizzy, have tunnel vision, and heart rate spike.

Retrieve Objects - Going to get water from the fridge or medication.

Deep Pressure Therapy - This is a task that will reduce heart rate, help with circulation, and improve blood flow.

Get Help - Going to alert one of my parents.

Mobility Aid - Help stabilize me or getting me up from a position if I am having a high pain day.

What will your money go towards? By donating you are helping me be able to afford a Golden Retriever Puppy from a breeder which trains/helps owners train their services dogs and specializes in dysautonomia and EDS. The initial price covers the dog and early stages of training to becoming a service dog. This will also help me be able to purchase some gear needed to train/maintain a puppy learning to be a service dog.