Emily Progin, PR and Communications Coordinator
eprogin@helphopelive.org / 800.642.8399
Release: Immediate
JACKSONVILLE 8-YEAR-OLD NEEDS HELP TO AFFFORD LIFE-SAVING SEIZURE ALERT DOG
“Help Me Give My Baby Girl a Chance at Life Again”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Eight-year-old Kailey Osias needs a little help and hope from the Jacksonville community to bring an essential medical resource within reach: a seizure alert dog. Kailey’s mother has turned to the national fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live to cover the out-of-pocket cost of training a service dog to detect and help prevent life-threatening seizures, which will drastically improve Kailey and her mother’s ability to live a normal and fulfilling life.
Their journey started when Kailey slowly began to exhibit signs of erratic behavior and disconnecting from her surroundings. Teachers reported that Kailey seemed distant—in some cases, her unpredictable behavior escalated to attempts to harm herself or others. Doctors diagnosed her with ADHD, but Kailey’s mother Catherine felt a surge of intuition that something deeper was wrong with her little girl.
Kailey’s erratic behavior culminated in a trip to the emergency room, where she was finally diagnosed with epilepsy. Since her diagnosis, it’s been an ongoing struggle for her mom to manage constant medical appointments in addition to speech classes and other specialist trips.
While Kailey often appears the same as other girls her age on the outside, her diagnosis means significant risk to herself and potentially to others around her if she experiences seizures. These seizures are often life-threatening yet completely silent and difficult to notice or detect. As a result, Catherine has had to drastically limit Kailey’s participation in some of her favorite hobbies and interests.
A service dog is a life-changing resource for Kailey and kids like her living with epilepsy. Once fully trained, her service dog will be able to detect and potentially even anticipate silent seizures before they begin and alert others to get medical help. With this service dog by her side, Kailey can participate in her life once more. However, insurance has refused to cover the cost, leaving Catherine with an out-of-pocket cost of $12,000 or more for service dog training.
Catherine has started a verified and tax-deductible fundraising campaign with Help Hope Live at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/19247/
“It really takes a village,” said Catherine on Kailey’s fundraising page. “My hope is to find those who are willing and able to help me give my baby girl a chance at life again.”
Donations can be made online or via check (details on the Campaign Page). For more information about the nonprofit or other ways to get involved in the fundraising campaign, call 800-642-8399 and ask for Melanie Johnson—Catherine and Kailey’s Client Services Coordinator.
Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient.
Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $158 million to pay patient expenses. ###
Written by Emily Progin
