Veteran in need of Heroes

 Hello, this is Bill, a 43 year old disabled veteran. His need is for the expense to train and qualify his service dog, Ariel. His goal is $15,000 which is half of the cost. 

   Bill served 12 years before being medically retired. He has PTSD, depression, heart valve issues, and rare form of paroxysmal cerebellar ataxia. Bill has had many, 14, surgeries and intense counseling. 

   Ariel, his service dog, will be trained to detect the onset of an ataxia episode and get Bill somewhere safe. She’s expected to grow large enough to weigh him down during an episode, give support with balance issues, retrieve emergency medicine, and get help. Ariel will be PTSD, depression, and anxiety trained as well. With Bill’s type of ataxia, speech, vision, hearing, balance, and cordination becomes impaired, so Ariel will assist with all safety issues. She will be his Guardian Angel and companion.

   Agencies that provide service dogs at low cost have waitlists that are years long however, Bill was graciously being provided a dog by Levesque German Shepherds. They are amazingly kind and caring people who are German Shepherd breeders right here in Maine. They chose a dog they were confident would meet his needs.

   Now that his dog is available, Bill will need to use a professional trainer, (update 11/6/23) signed a 2 year training agreement with Purpose Pups LLC out of Newport ME, to complete all training including the medical task training in our home, including the anticipated needs of my rare conditions specific needs. A combination of training techniques will minimize the overall cost to approximately $15,000. The donated funds will ALL go towards Ariel’s training expenses.

The following is a letter from Bill.

I am an active member in my community, and I devote my time to others with disabilities, serve my community, and help other veterans. I work with individuals with disabilities doing direct support and behavioral health. I volunteer in my community with veterans and local organizations helping low income families and others in need.

 

So, I am not proud to say, but I have made 2 attempts on my life, the first after losing my career in the military and having my whole world thrown into disaster. The second was about a month ago when I was in such a horrible episode of ataxia and depression with no assistance of relief thru a multiple day period of extreme pain and depression. Both times, my wife has been there to help and stop me. She was my support until I was able to get myself back to a safe mind space. A service dog will be trained to assist with supporting me thru situations just like this, as well as others.

 

Needless to say, I am married to the most amazing woman. She has stood by me thru everything for over 25 years. Let’s say that trauma doesn’t always make you the nicest of people, myself included, and yet she stands by me. She is currently working a second job to help with the expenses we have and to compensate for the time I lose when I am not able to work. I also have an adult son who does his best to assist and a teenage daughter we adopted with multiple disabilities of her own. Both children have been part of my support team. 

 

I know I have shared a lot. I want you to know who I am and that I have spent my life serving others. I wish to continue to do that for as long as I am capable. I believe that God put us all here for a reason, and mine is to make the lives of others better. With the kindness of others, I will be able to have the service dog I need to continue to work and make not just my life better, but the lives of others as I am intended.

 

Please feel free to ask me anything and I will share more if I can. This is not easy for me to write nor is it easy for me to ask others to help me. I thank you for taking the time to read my story and get to know