Hey y'all! 

We are raising money for George to have a service dog that will be trained specifically to meet his needs. The service dog (which we are excited to lovingly call "Benson" because who protects children better than Captain Olivia Benson?) will be trained to: 

- Apply deep pressure to George who has very strong sensory needs and proprioception

- Intervene in behaviors that are repetitive or dangerous that George some times engages in (banging head, etc)

- Provide a sense of independence because George is an eloper (runs away when not being held or in a stroller). George is fast and has made it out the front door just as someone was walking through it. He has no sense of danger and is drawn specifically to water. Benson will be trained to be tethered to George, to stand guard at the door if he attempts to run and even (Heaven forbid), trained to seek and find George by scent should he get out of the house or even into another aisle of a store, for example. 

- Will be able to provide comfort and "nuzzling" when George is stuck in a loop and, as we call it, "going into the red." This can be caused by almost anything (a number, a sound, a color, etc.) and Benson will intervene before he gets the opportunity to harm himself. 

- Will be a best friend to run around with (since George has ALL the energy in the world) and someone who protects him when he is most vulnerable. At the same time, Benson is getting one of the most loyal and loving humans to ever exist. 

George is 3 years old and lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his mom, Kristen. It's just the two of them and an extra set of eyes, ears and REALLY fast legs would go a long way for this single mom. George loves to read books, count to 1000, paint pictures, line up his stuffies and figures into patterns and categories. He has the soul of an old man (and the average listening age of 77 years on Spotify) with his love for Motown and classic rock & roll. 

George was born 6 weeks prematurely and spent time in the NICU after his delivery. He overcame every challenge he was faced with in that hospital pod and has continuously knocked smilestones and achievements out of the park. George began therapy very young to learn how to chew his food (feeding therapy). He seemed to be progressing in speech and communication just fine until one day, he stopped saying "Mama" and stopped signing. Concerned and knowing if anything was wrong that early intervention was key, Kristen did every test she could imagine. 

And after everything was ruled out (epilepsy/seizures, complications from prematurity), George was diagnosed with Autism (ASD) and began ABA therapy just before his second birthday. Over these past 18 months, George has excelled in many areas and has developed more behaviors in others as we learn more about his Autism and the difference between "he's being a 3 year old toddler" and "this is not normal behavior." George has been diagnosed with PICA (which terrifies Kristen as he puts everything and anything into his mouth- another behavior Benson would be so helpful with) and OCD. George has a very limited diet of foods he will eat and can eat due to allergies as well. 

The thing about George is that he is a miracle. Kristen was never supposed to have children after doctor's told her time and time again she couldn't. But on her 38th birthday, she saw the words "pregnant" on 12 different sticks (disbelief kicked in immediately), Kristen knew that she would do ANYTHING for the baby that she had always prayed for but was told she would never carry. 

George is being raised "like the 90s" because his mama is old and only remembers 1980s Sesame Street and when car rides didn't have technology. He has read over 3,000 books and is teaching himself ASL because he wants to learn it. He thinks he is a firefighter, a cowboy and a comedian: all at the same time. His mom credits the firefighter personality to the amazing people she works with at the Fort Worth Fire Department. 

Kristen knows how incredibly blessed she is to have George has her son. And while it's very difficult to be a single mother to a special needs child, she wouldn't have it any other way. God made George perfectly in His image and just the way He knitted him together in her womb. No mistakes were made. But as George grows up, having a service dog will provide him with comfort, security, safety, comraderie and love that Kristen can only do SO MUCH of as the only parent. And the peace of mind that would come with having Benson would be life changing. 

Sometimes George goes into his own little world and disappears for a bit. We're not sure where he goes but when he is there, he is so happy and talking in his own language and has a light in his eye that just melts your heart. Although we can never join him in that world he sometimes escapes to.... we are just blessed to have a chance to be part of it. And the life that George Wilder and Benson will live together as best friends- truly growing up together- will be one that will never be taken for granted. 

We want to thank you so much for your love and support for George and this journey. We know $20,000 is A LOT of money and it's beyond humbling to ask for any kind of donation. But Kristen would do anything for her little boy and if that means she is the recipient of fundraising instead of the one DOING the fundraising for others, then she will do it. 

We know every penny will be used to train Benson to be George's service dog and perfect companion. And we are beyond grateful for the open hearts y'all have shown us already. 

Follow along and learn more about George and his journey to get Benson with us in this Facebook Group. 

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.