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I got a comment on my Facebook page from a lady who was interested in a spoo pup in the future. Her grand daughter is waiting on a service dog(a standard poodle) I had no idea how expensive these dogs are!
I offered to help out in fundraising or whatever else I can help with. Here is a letter from the lady (her name is Tami) She has given me permission to post her address and phone number, if anyone wants to phone or write with questions or words of encouragement.
Amber, I appreciate your offer to help us with our goal of getting Madison a service dog.. Here is a short version of our story..
My husband, Douglas and I are raising our two grandchildren, Madison 10 in July, and Jacob 8 1/2. We are also raising our adopted daughter Anna 9 1/2 from Russia. We live just north of Roanoke Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. My husband is retired Army and served for 22 years, spending 7 years at Ft. Bragg, NC..
All three children suffer from disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. It is a metabolic disorder that effects the collagen in the body. It damages the structure in the bones making the children fracture over and over again. Madison has it the most severely. She has gone down hill and is fracturing more and more. We cannot figure out yet what is going on. She has had approximately 35 major breaks and 13 orthopedic surgeries.. Recently on Monday, March 29th Madison broke her fibula in her lower left leg while just sitting on the floor playing with a doll house. 5 days later on Friday, April 2nd, she was getting on the couch and her leg twisted and her and I both heard it break several times. She ended up with a comminuted fracture of her femur. The 4th time on that leg in a year.
As a family we have decided to get Madison a service dog. She also has asthma and slight autism, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from being kidnapped and missing for 8 weeks. She has the goal of wanting to go to school and not have to have a personal aide with her at all times. Her biological mother has the same disease and did very well in high school with her service dog, a black lab named Brutus. For Madison we chose to get a standard poodle for several reasons. They do not shed, and since she has asthma that is wonderful, standard poodles have a lighter touch and are very versatile in actually finding ways to help. They are extremely intelligent and loving. This service poodle will be able to brace her and help her up off the floor and out of chairs and bed. It will walk slowly and let her hold on to her so she doesn't fall. It will help her up stairs, go for help, pull her in her wheelchair when she tires.. and so many other things. Her service dog will also help her have a constant friend when she is forgotten by school mates when she can't keep up. It will also make it so much easier for people to approach her, the dog will give them something to talk about and they won't just see the wheelchair or walker...
Madison is a very kind, sweet, and loving child, with an amazing sense of humor. She is a very brave child that as soon as she can gets right back up on her walker and tries to start walking again after surgeries and fractures... Right now with this last fracture she has not been able to move in two weeks. I have no doubt that as soon as she can she will start trying to stand again.... She is a fighter.
We thank you so very much for any help that you are willing to give in the pursuit of funding for this service dog. We have found a wonderful but small organization called the Jasmine Charitable Trust in Hampton VA. They only train standard poodles, and have accepted Madison as one of the few children they work with. We were delighted to find out that due to a cancellation by one person, that there might already be a match for Madison. It is crucial that we try and raise 11,000 as soon as possible. It is our goal that Madison be able to start 5th grade with her new companion...
Thank you for letting us tell our story...
If you would like more information on Madison's disease you can go to Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation:
to check out the organization where we are getting her service poodle, please go to The Jasmine Charitable Trust Home Page
Big Hugs To All, Tami Helms
515 Etzler Rd.
Troutville, VA 24175
540-597-9203
Madison is the girl with the pink mittens in the first picture.
any fundraiser ideas would be greatly appreciated!
I offered to help out in fundraising or whatever else I can help with. Here is a letter from the lady (her name is Tami) She has given me permission to post her address and phone number, if anyone wants to phone or write with questions or words of encouragement.
Amber, I appreciate your offer to help us with our goal of getting Madison a service dog.. Here is a short version of our story..
My husband, Douglas and I are raising our two grandchildren, Madison 10 in July, and Jacob 8 1/2. We are also raising our adopted daughter Anna 9 1/2 from Russia. We live just north of Roanoke Virginia, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. My husband is retired Army and served for 22 years, spending 7 years at Ft. Bragg, NC..
All three children suffer from disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. It is a metabolic disorder that effects the collagen in the body. It damages the structure in the bones making the children fracture over and over again. Madison has it the most severely. She has gone down hill and is fracturing more and more. We cannot figure out yet what is going on. She has had approximately 35 major breaks and 13 orthopedic surgeries.. Recently on Monday, March 29th Madison broke her fibula in her lower left leg while just sitting on the floor playing with a doll house. 5 days later on Friday, April 2nd, she was getting on the couch and her leg twisted and her and I both heard it break several times. She ended up with a comminuted fracture of her femur. The 4th time on that leg in a year.
As a family we have decided to get Madison a service dog. She also has asthma and slight autism, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from being kidnapped and missing for 8 weeks. She has the goal of wanting to go to school and not have to have a personal aide with her at all times. Her biological mother has the same disease and did very well in high school with her service dog, a black lab named Brutus. For Madison we chose to get a standard poodle for several reasons. They do not shed, and since she has asthma that is wonderful, standard poodles have a lighter touch and are very versatile in actually finding ways to help. They are extremely intelligent and loving. This service poodle will be able to brace her and help her up off the floor and out of chairs and bed. It will walk slowly and let her hold on to her so she doesn't fall. It will help her up stairs, go for help, pull her in her wheelchair when she tires.. and so many other things. Her service dog will also help her have a constant friend when she is forgotten by school mates when she can't keep up. It will also make it so much easier for people to approach her, the dog will give them something to talk about and they won't just see the wheelchair or walker...
Madison is a very kind, sweet, and loving child, with an amazing sense of humor. She is a very brave child that as soon as she can gets right back up on her walker and tries to start walking again after surgeries and fractures... Right now with this last fracture she has not been able to move in two weeks. I have no doubt that as soon as she can she will start trying to stand again.... She is a fighter.
We thank you so very much for any help that you are willing to give in the pursuit of funding for this service dog. We have found a wonderful but small organization called the Jasmine Charitable Trust in Hampton VA. They only train standard poodles, and have accepted Madison as one of the few children they work with. We were delighted to find out that due to a cancellation by one person, that there might already be a match for Madison. It is crucial that we try and raise 11,000 as soon as possible. It is our goal that Madison be able to start 5th grade with her new companion...
Thank you for letting us tell our story...
If you would like more information on Madison's disease you can go to Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation:
to check out the organization where we are getting her service poodle, please go to The Jasmine Charitable Trust Home Page
Big Hugs To All, Tami Helms
515 Etzler Rd.
Troutville, VA 24175
540-597-9203
Madison is the girl with the pink mittens in the first picture.
any fundraiser ideas would be greatly appreciated!
