About Me
My name is Erica, and I am a senior at a local university studying biopsychology. In 2008, I was diagnosed with a rare neurovascular disorder that causes hearing loss, impaired balance, and ataxia (weakness). Several times per month, I experience a flare up that causes these symptoms to increase in severity and triggers the temporary onset of new ones. Typically, I never know when I am going to experience a flare up, which can be very frightening.
In the spring of 2009, I was diagnosed with a chronic pain disorder as well as a muscular disorder. I have experienced increased difficulty with mobility due to fatigue, weakness, and muscle spasticity. Prior to the onset of these medical conditions, I was an active college student. I spent a lot of time in class, working several jobs, volunteering with adults and children with special needs, and enjoying hobbies such as figure skating and running. Accepting severe limitations caused by my diagnoses has been far from easy. I have had to change how I accomplish home and school-related tasks and try to find a balance. I am fortunate to have great specialists on my medical treatment team, and together we are constantly working to arrange the best long-term care possible.
Why a Service Dog?
I have always been a very independent person and I value the ability to care for and advocate for myself and others. Unfortunately, the changes in my health severely limited my level of independence. Adjusting to life with chronic illness has not been easy, and I have been fortunate enough to have help along the way. Making small changes in my daily routine and how I get around was a good start, but when someone suggested I might benefit from a service dog, I was excited. During my research, I discovered that some dogs have the innate ability to pick up on conditions that have a neurological basis and alert the handler before they become ill. Dogs cannot be trained to perform these alerts, but the alerting behavior can be reinforced if it is naturally present. After months of research, my doctors and I agreed that I would strongly benefit from the physical and emotional support that a service dog could provide.
What will a Service Dog do for me?
My new service dog will have spent between 18 and 24 months in training mastering public access and the tasks needed to help me. The dog will be trained to assist me with walking by pulling me forward to create a more natural momentum so I can travel at a faster, more confident pace. It will also be trained to counter-balance me to prevent falls related to my balance impairment, and brace me to help me get up when I do fall. The dog will be taught to retrieve and carry items for me, as well as assist in opening heavy doors (those can throw anyone off balance!). It will also be trained to alert me to common household sounds, let me know when someone is calling my name, as well as many, many other tasks to mitigate my disabilities. Hopefully, my dog will also pick up on my neurovascular episodes and warn me before they happen.
