Training a service dog to meet our child’s requirements can be very costly. On average it costs between $40,000-60,000 to raise, train, and place a service dog at 4 Paws for Ability. While 4 Paws for Ability fundraises to help cover a significant portion of this cost, families are tasked with raising $20,000 of that amount or $23,000 if receiving a poodle, doodle or papillon. We hope that we can receive assistance from our beloved family and friends to help make our service dog dream a reality.

On march 10, 2021 Gabriella Frantz was born with an extremely rare neurological disorder that almost exclusively affects females called Aicardi syndrome. Because it is so rare, and many people have never heard of it, I am leaving a brief description of what Aicardi Syndrome is. It is a bit complicated, but what an opportunity to also spread awareness! 

There are  three main features of Aicardi syndrome: First, complete or partial absence of the nerve tissue that allows the right and left sides of the brain to communicate (corpus callosum). Second, seizures beginning in infancy (infantile spasms). These are involuntary spasms that involve single jerks of the entire body. Children with Aicardi syndrome usually grow out of infantile spasms and then have generalized tonic-clonic or other types of seizures. The third, chorioretinal lacunae, which is defects or holes in the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina).

Along with this triad Gabriella has several other genetic deformities: Brain Cyst, microthalmia (undeveloped, little eye) causing blindness in right eye, scoliosis, missing ribs, missing sacral, and muscle weakness. Gabriellas syndrome leads to lifelong developmental delays that have an impact on her language & communication as well as motor skills. 

Despite all of this, our girl defined the odds by taking first steps we never thought possible and speaking words we thought we’d never hear. 

So how does a service dog help with all of this ? Well significantly in many ways! Her guardian will be trained to detect an oncoming seizure, most importantly! No more falling and hitting her head, we will be alerted and able to have her in a safe place for the duration of the seizure. This is also helpful for seizure alert through the night. Gabriella is visually impaired, her dog will be her guide through every day life, an extra pair of eyes for her. The dog will also serve as an extra pair of eyes for us. Being a very determined little girl has gotten her so far, but also gets her in unsafe situations. Wandering, climbing, grabbing unsafe items are all ways a service dog will help keep her safe in the world around her. Thank you so much for your support in her journey. God bless!