ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — The neighborhood is rallying round an Anderson Township 2-year-old with extreme epilepsy.
Mason Miller’s household believes a seizure alert service canine may change his life.
“When Mason was 4 months old, he was identified with childish spasms,” mentioned his mother, Maddie Eckert.
Infantile spasms are a uncommon, however critical sort of epilepsy you solely get as an toddler. Because it may be life-threatening, Mason was instantly began on a remedy plan.
“It sucks seeing your child sick, and never having the ability to assist them,” Eckert mentioned.
His mother mentioned at one level, Mason was having between 400-500 seizures a day.
“And listening to him being in ache afterward, and there is nothing actually you are able to do … that was the toughest half, I feel,” his mom mentioned.
In December, Mason had surgical procedure on the a part of his mind that docs believed was triggering the seizures. Doctors mentioned after the surgical procedure, he would wish to learn to walk once more.
“By the grace of God, I do not know the way, however he wakened from surgical procedure, and never two hours later was walking down the hallway, no points in any respect,” she mentioned.
Mason is making enormous strides, Eckert mentioned. He hasn’t had a seizure in almost a month.
“He’s been progressing amazingly,” she mentioned.
Eckert believes Mason will be capable to make much more strides ahead, with the addition of a seizure alert service canine. The canine could be educated to assist if Mason had been to ever have a seizure once more sooner or later.
“They can odor if a seizure’s oncoming they usually can alert an grownup or guardian,” Eckert mentioned.
Seizure alert service dogs might be life-changing, however they aren’t low-cost. Eckert mentioned they usually cost anyplace from $45-65,000.
Mason was awarded a $5,000 grant to go in the direction of funding a service canine. To begin the coaching, they wanted to boost $14,000.
Last week, the family started a GoFundMe page to assist with a few of the funds. Just three days after beginning the fundraiser, that they had already raised greater than $13,500.
“I put my telephone down and I decide it up after not even 24 hours, and there is $8,000 in his GoFundMe,” Eckert mentioned. “It simply was so stunning.”
She mentioned has been blown away by the neighborhood response, speechless as she watches donations flood in.
“I’ve had folks I do not even know donate to this, and I’ve had folks I went to highschool with that I did not know very properly, and their dad and mom are donating,” she mentioned. “The neighborhood has actually come collectively, and it has been actually wonderful.”
Eckert mentioned GoFundMe takes a portion out of every donation, so they’re nonetheless wanting their objective of $14,000.
If you’d prefer to donate, you are able to do so here. The proceeds will go straight towards Dulebohn Dog coaching.
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