Lakshmi Arora

We are seeking community support to provide Lakshmi, a 17-year-old young woman living with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy caused by bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria, with a professionally trained seizure alert service dog.

Lakshmi’s seizures are unpredictable and dangerous, having already resulted in serious injuries including sprained ankles, a sprained wrist, cracked teeth, and a broken elbow. Unlike some forms of epilepsy, her seizure type is not treatable with surgery, leaving her with limited medical options.

Although some people assume seizure alert dogs are not reliable, specialized trainers identify and begin working with puppies who naturally demonstrate the ability to sense seizures using saliva and sweat samples. These exceptional dogs can alert anywhere from 5–15 minutes before an episode, giving individuals like Lakshmi critical time to reach safety, avoid injury, and prepare for recovery. This reduces injury risk and anxiety while enabling her to participate more fully in school and community activities.

With a seizure alert service dog, Lakshmi will:

*Safely participate in school and community activities

*Experience reduced emergency medical interventions

*Gain independence and confidence

*Find emotional comfort and relief from anxiety and depression

*Reduce isolation through companionship and raise awareness of bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria and Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome