Bryce O'Neal Therapy Dog
Donation protected
Our seven year-old son Bryce, has big brown eyes and soft brown hair. He loves to play baseball, Minecraft and ride his bike/skateboard just like any other child his age. However, Bryce was diagnosed with Autism in March of 2015 and is our special boy in his own little way.
“What is Autism” you ask? Well, in short, it is a developmental delay and a neurological disorder. We struggle with Autism EVERY day. BUT, I’m getting ahead of myself - let me share our story.
It was an exciting day, a day we had waited very patiently for – the birth of our SON. Carrie was already in Charlotte, North Carolina as I was preparing to grade some JROTC drill competitions. I was an Instructor with the Marine Corps Professional Military Education Academies. I received the late night phone call that it was time and I had to race to Charlotte for the big moment! Bryce decided it was time to come a little early and due to complications of under developed lungs, he spent two-weeks in the NICU on a C-PAP machine and feeding tube. Ultimately, we were able to bring him home and upon reaching the age of two is when we started to notice significant differences with his development. There was no vocabulary exchange from him, which caused frustration for both of us in trying to understand his needs and wants. Also, he had these extreme sensory issues, e.g. problems with eating textured foods, loud noises and extreme anxiety repercussions. He didn’t care to eat much table food, and was very picky with textures and smells. It’s honestly a daily struggle with foods, still to this day. A pediatrician prompted us to see an Occupational and Speech Therapist OT/ST for a diagnosis. Shortly after, weekly therapy sessions became a normal routine and in most cases, three to four times concurrently in which he still attends to this day.
When Bryce was halfway through his Kindergarten year, constant social struggles and severe anxiety started consuming his day. Seeking guidance from additional doctors to include a Developmental Pediatrician (finally!) for some further testing, the results have undoubtedly changed our lives forever. Upon seeing the doctors, Bryce was initially diagnosed with Apraxia of speech, sensory processing disorder, obsessive compulsive tendencies, severe anxiety and finally the March diagnosis.
This proved to be extremely difficult over the next couple of years due to me serving an unaccompanied tour in South Korea; moving from Jacksonville, N.C. to Quantico, V.A. for one-year; New Orleans, L.A. for two-years and now Oceanside, C.A. I state this because the change due to the military lifestyle we live by has proven to be difficult for him and the constant change he undergoes. It’s a daily struggle for Bryce to manage the different smells, feelings, and personalities. There is a fair amount of meltdowns due to the struggles with transitioning. Bryce is currently on a wait-list for ABA Therapy services, which could be another 6 months, or so. The ABA services will further progress Bryce with his day-to-day social and behavioral challenges. We are forever researching and trying new things, with some being successes and others not being as successful, but learning along the way. Our ultimate goal is for autism to not control Bryce, but allow Bryce to control his autism.
Upon arriving in California, Bryce’s most recent therapist and doctors suggested we research into trained therapy dogs. Carrie began to extensively search the internet and happened upon a company in Utah at http://www.puppystepstraining.com; whereas, their two lead trainers both served in Afghanistan and have extensive backgrounds in training dogs for people suffering from PTSD and other related autism backgrounds. The training is a 6-8 week process indicative of the level of training the dog may require. Carrie has talked to several companies thorough out the Southwest and Haley and Brad have absolutely set our minds at ease through the testimonials of their Facebook page and YouTube training videos.
We are asking for your help in making this a reality for our son. The benefits of having a therapy dog would bring Bryce consistency, stability and companionship. It would make transitions less stressful and more successful. In addition to having a companion, Bryce will have improved quality of sleep, as assistance dogs provide a certain level of comfort. Bedtime has proven to be one of the more difficult times of the day and a therapy dog can often improve a child’s ability for transition and sleep more throughout the night. A therapy dog will improve Bryce’s social skills and social interaction, as well. These dogs are naturally fascinating to others, giving them and the child with autism a common interest. Improved independence is yet another benefit of a therapy dog, as they allow Bryce to walk with the dog, enforcing the independence and degrading his anxiety. Overall calming ability improves when performing everyday tasks, as children with therapy dogs feel less pressure working with their dog as opposed to their peers. The tactile experience of having a dog as a companion has also proven to provide calming affects. Children with Autism who work with assistance dogs have been documented to feel less anger and experience less acts of aggression compared to the time before receiving a therapy dog.
We are trying to raise a total of $4,500 in order to acquire a therapy dog for Bryce. The breakdowns of the specific costs are the following:
o Deposit to hold our spot with the trainer = $500 (Goes toward final cost)
o Cost of puppy = $1000
o Training = $3,000
o Travel costs to Utah (Flown or driven for pickup) = $500
We would love to have Bryce’s dog by the end of the year 2015. There is no donation too small. We are forever grateful to any and all financial help in reaching our goal and bringing Bryce’s dog home. Thank you in advance for your consideration, your thoughts and prayers, your time and your donation.
God Bless!
“What is Autism” you ask? Well, in short, it is a developmental delay and a neurological disorder. We struggle with Autism EVERY day. BUT, I’m getting ahead of myself - let me share our story.
It was an exciting day, a day we had waited very patiently for – the birth of our SON. Carrie was already in Charlotte, North Carolina as I was preparing to grade some JROTC drill competitions. I was an Instructor with the Marine Corps Professional Military Education Academies. I received the late night phone call that it was time and I had to race to Charlotte for the big moment! Bryce decided it was time to come a little early and due to complications of under developed lungs, he spent two-weeks in the NICU on a C-PAP machine and feeding tube. Ultimately, we were able to bring him home and upon reaching the age of two is when we started to notice significant differences with his development. There was no vocabulary exchange from him, which caused frustration for both of us in trying to understand his needs and wants. Also, he had these extreme sensory issues, e.g. problems with eating textured foods, loud noises and extreme anxiety repercussions. He didn’t care to eat much table food, and was very picky with textures and smells. It’s honestly a daily struggle with foods, still to this day. A pediatrician prompted us to see an Occupational and Speech Therapist OT/ST for a diagnosis. Shortly after, weekly therapy sessions became a normal routine and in most cases, three to four times concurrently in which he still attends to this day.
When Bryce was halfway through his Kindergarten year, constant social struggles and severe anxiety started consuming his day. Seeking guidance from additional doctors to include a Developmental Pediatrician (finally!) for some further testing, the results have undoubtedly changed our lives forever. Upon seeing the doctors, Bryce was initially diagnosed with Apraxia of speech, sensory processing disorder, obsessive compulsive tendencies, severe anxiety and finally the March diagnosis.
This proved to be extremely difficult over the next couple of years due to me serving an unaccompanied tour in South Korea; moving from Jacksonville, N.C. to Quantico, V.A. for one-year; New Orleans, L.A. for two-years and now Oceanside, C.A. I state this because the change due to the military lifestyle we live by has proven to be difficult for him and the constant change he undergoes. It’s a daily struggle for Bryce to manage the different smells, feelings, and personalities. There is a fair amount of meltdowns due to the struggles with transitioning. Bryce is currently on a wait-list for ABA Therapy services, which could be another 6 months, or so. The ABA services will further progress Bryce with his day-to-day social and behavioral challenges. We are forever researching and trying new things, with some being successes and others not being as successful, but learning along the way. Our ultimate goal is for autism to not control Bryce, but allow Bryce to control his autism.
Upon arriving in California, Bryce’s most recent therapist and doctors suggested we research into trained therapy dogs. Carrie began to extensively search the internet and happened upon a company in Utah at http://www.puppystepstraining.com; whereas, their two lead trainers both served in Afghanistan and have extensive backgrounds in training dogs for people suffering from PTSD and other related autism backgrounds. The training is a 6-8 week process indicative of the level of training the dog may require. Carrie has talked to several companies thorough out the Southwest and Haley and Brad have absolutely set our minds at ease through the testimonials of their Facebook page and YouTube training videos.
We are asking for your help in making this a reality for our son. The benefits of having a therapy dog would bring Bryce consistency, stability and companionship. It would make transitions less stressful and more successful. In addition to having a companion, Bryce will have improved quality of sleep, as assistance dogs provide a certain level of comfort. Bedtime has proven to be one of the more difficult times of the day and a therapy dog can often improve a child’s ability for transition and sleep more throughout the night. A therapy dog will improve Bryce’s social skills and social interaction, as well. These dogs are naturally fascinating to others, giving them and the child with autism a common interest. Improved independence is yet another benefit of a therapy dog, as they allow Bryce to walk with the dog, enforcing the independence and degrading his anxiety. Overall calming ability improves when performing everyday tasks, as children with therapy dogs feel less pressure working with their dog as opposed to their peers. The tactile experience of having a dog as a companion has also proven to provide calming affects. Children with Autism who work with assistance dogs have been documented to feel less anger and experience less acts of aggression compared to the time before receiving a therapy dog.
We are trying to raise a total of $4,500 in order to acquire a therapy dog for Bryce. The breakdowns of the specific costs are the following:
o Deposit to hold our spot with the trainer = $500 (Goes toward final cost)
o Cost of puppy = $1000
o Training = $3,000
o Travel costs to Utah (Flown or driven for pickup) = $500
We would love to have Bryce’s dog by the end of the year 2015. There is no donation too small. We are forever grateful to any and all financial help in reaching our goal and bringing Bryce’s dog home. Thank you in advance for your consideration, your thoughts and prayers, your time and your donation.
God Bless!
Organizer
Shaun O'Neal
Organizer
Oceanside, CA