My Story and Why Your Support Matters

Hello, my name is Raquel. I am a proud Madison, Wisconsin native and a passionate advocate and graduate team with Canine Companions. I am sharing my story not only to raise funds, but to raise awareness for every person who needs a life‑changing service dog.

Organizations like Canine Companions provide expertly trained service dogs who help with daily tasks, offer emotional comfort, and support individuals during emergencies. These dogs are more than companions. They are lifelines who help people navigate unpredictable conditions and live fuller, safer, and more independent lives.

The Day Everything Changed

In April 2023, my life took a devastating turn. I woke up expecting a normal day, but as I reached the top of the stairs, my neurological syndrome suddenly shut down my body. I collapsed, fell down the entire staircase, and lost consciousness. When I woke, my dog was licking my face, desperately trying to help. She ran upstairs to alert my husband but could not wake him. I used Siri to call him, and he rushed me to the hospital.

At the ER, I was placed in a neck brace and underwent full‑body scans. I had internal tissue damage, severe bruising, and short‑term memory loss that still affects me today. I spent over three months in a neck brace, and my neck has never been the same.

In May 2025, it happened again. I suffered another fall at home. My husband was not there, and I had to crawl up the stairs to reach my phone and call him.

I have lived with this neurological syndrome for over a decade. What began with a cane eventually led to using a walker daily since June 2021. My condition brings unbearable chronic pain, unpredictable flare‑ups, and debilitating symptoms that severely limit my mobility and independence. Some days, I have no warning before an attack strikes. Even small movements or stress can leave me bedridden for days or weeks.

It is physically exhausting and emotionally draining, but through it all, I have held onto hope.

Finding a Lifeline

After my first fall, my pain specialist and physician agreed that I needed a service dog. The search was heartbreaking. Many organizations never responded, and others required fundraising between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand dollars just to receive a dog, plus travel and lodging costs my husband and I could not afford.

Then I found Canine Companions, and everything changed.

Their mission stopped me in my tracks when I read the words: “Since 1975, Canine Companions has provided service dogs and follow‑up services at no cost to clients.”

Reading that felt like a weight lifting off my chest.

When I called, I found warmth, compassion, and people who truly cared. They answered every question, never rushed me, and made me feel seen. This was something I had not experienced with other organizations.

My Journey Through 2026 and the Miracle of Being Matched with King Cody VI

At the end of June 2026, I underwent a life‑saving operation. I was on death’s door and nearly lost my life. The surgery was extremely risky, and I spent months on bedrest recovering. In mid‑October, I had a corrective surgery related to the first operation and was off work for two weeks before returning.

On November 19, I had my phone interview with Canine Companions trainer Natalie. She told me they had a potential match for me and would follow up after Thanksgiving week. I was filled with excitement knowing I might finally be matched with my service dog.

On November 25, everything changed again. I ended up in the ER and waited over nine hours before being taken back with my husband, Casey. I had an emergency CT scan, and the top surgeons rushed in. They asked us if we had a power of attorney and a will in place, and we told them yes. This was the second time that year we had been asked that question. They explained that the surgery I needed was extremely risky and had to be performed immediately to save my life. This surgery was not related to the first two operations.

I was transferred from downtown Madison to the East Madison hospital in the early morning, where I met my surgical team and prepared for surgery the next day. I kissed my husband, and off I went. When I woke up, my surgeon told me they recorded my operation to teach other surgeons and students how to perform this life‑saving procedure.

I spent Thanksgiving week in the hospital recovering. When I returned home, I received a call on Monday, December 1, telling me I had been accepted into Team Training. I cried in my husband’s arms, overwhelmed with gratitude that my dream and hope was coming true.

I spent December healing. During that time, I saw group holiday photos of the dogs on campus with the trainers. One dog stood out to me: Cody VI. I told my husband, “That is my service dog. I feel it throughout my body, soul, and bones.” He smiled and said, “We will see.”

At the beginning of the new year, I returned to work. On January 21, I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy due to a separate serious health condition that was not related to my previous surgeries. On January 30, my husband and I drove back to Ohio and stayed at an Airbnb for a few days before checking into campus on February 1.

When we arrived, we were greeted by Trisha, who helped us settle into our suite. We stayed on campus for two weeks of vigorous training and built wonderful friendships and bonds with our service dogs.

On day one, I met Cody VI and was handed his leash. He was tall, regal, and carried himself like royalty. I immediately named him King Cody VI. By day three, I was officially given his leash as my service dog. King Cody VI and I formed an instant bond from the moment we met. He has never left my side since. He is my lifeline, my independence, and my savior.

We were honored to be the class speakers at graduation on 2/13/2026 and I encourage you to watch the video to learn more about my disability and what King Cody VI means to me.

For Wisconsinites, here is a fun fact. Our class had three graduates from Sun Prairie, Poynette, and Appleton. Canine Companions invested over 150K into Wisconsin alone, along with providing wonderful onsite accommodations and volunteer‑prepared lunches free of charge.

After returning home, King Cody VI, my husband Casey, and I had numerous UW medical tests and appointments throughout the end of February and March. I ended up needing another emergency surgery, making this operations number four in less than a year. Two weeks later, I was back in the ER for over eighteen hours. King Cody VI never left my side except to go potty with my husband or eat. He stayed with me until I was transferred from East Madison to downtown UW for another procedure.

I was hospitalized for four days on antibiotics and heavy pain medication to avoid a fifth operation, which was too risky due to the trauma my body had already endured. After being released, I had follow‑up MRIs and blood draws to determine if I'd still need surgery or not. I developed a fear of needles because I had more than eleven to thirteen IVs placed throughout my arms each time I ended up in the hospital, and the team wanted to insert a PICC line, which I refused. My arms were black and blue, but I still needed blood draws.

King Cody VI knew every time I needed him. He sensed my pain, offered comfort and deep pressure therapy, retrieved my medications, and helped me whenever I needed support. He tugs open drawers, doors, and even the laundry basket so I can access what I need without straining my body and preserving energy. He retrieves dropped items like my phone, wallet, and keys, and he braces to help me stand or stabilize during moments of weakness. He performs each cue with pride and purpose.

He is especially vital during my medical flare‑up attacks. He can detect the earliest signs before my body shuts down, giving me precious moments to prepare or call for help. During an attack, he stays pressed against me, stabilizing my body, offering deep pressure therapy, and keeping me safe until the episode passes. When I am unable to move, he performs one of his most important cues, Speak. This is a single, intentional bark used only to get my husband’s or relatives’ attention when something has happened to me. He does not bark unless cued, which makes this alert behavior incredibly reliable and life‑saving. He will run to retrieve my husband during a neurological attack when I can't communicate, or he will bark once to signal that I need immediate help.

He has walked beside me through surgeries, hospitalizations, ER visits, long medical appointments, scans, and countless blood draws. He has stayed with me through long nights, days, and weeks of chronic excruciating pain, moments when my body could not hold itself together, and when it goes dead weight leaving me paralyzed unable to move. He has celebrated my victories, supported my independence, and given me back pieces of my life that I thought were gone forever. He is my superhero, my steady anchor, and my constant source of hope. Our partnership is a living example of what Canine Companions makes possible, a bond that transforms lives, restores independence, and brings light into even the hardest moments.

Despite everything I have been through, he has never left my side. I am now transitioning into an ultralight wheelchair with power assist as an ambulatory user. I will no longer be using a walker wheelchair due to the progression of my syndrome and the irreversible permanent pain and medical trauma caused by having multiple surgeries without enough time for my body to properly heal, which has left lasting damage.

King Cody VI was a pro at the UW Neuro Physical Therapy clinic as we tested the ultralight wheelchair with power assist. I felt a new sense of independence knowing I would not need my husband Casey or a relative to push me every day. It gives them back their time as caregivers and allows them to conserve their energy for something else. It also gives me the freedom to move through the world at my own pace, make decisions without waiting for assistance, and reclaim moments of daily life that used to feel out of reach. For the first time in a long time, I felt what true independence could look like again. Now we are waiting for my power assist wheelchair to arrive so daily life can become more manageable.

Even through all of this, King Cody VI and I are excited to host several fundraisers this fall to give back to the organization that changed our lives.

How You Can Help

This year, I am hosting a silent auction and several smaller fundraisers to support Canine Companions and help future teams be matched with their service dogs.

Every dollar counts. Every donation makes a difference. Every act of support helps change a life.

Come meet puppy raisers, graduate teams, volunteers, and the incredible community behind this mission. Your support helps fund training, campus resources, equipment, veterinary care, and the beautiful graduate suites where teams stay during their two week training. All of this is provided at no cost to clients.

Your support truly means the world to us. Together, we can help future teams find their lifeline. Stay tuned to see our upcoming events posted here or on our Facebook and Instagram page at Access On The Go With King Cody VI.