4 Paws For Carson
Carson's Story
On July 16th, 2008 our world was forever changed with the arrival of our first child. A Son. I will never forget the feeling I got when they handed me my 7 pound 7 ounce miracle. He was perfect. He was Matt and me and himself all at once. Carson Charles Martin, everything I ever wanted.
On April 25th, 2009 Carson had his first seizure. It was terrifying. We took him to the ER and were told it was a febrile seizure, likely a one-time thing. But in my heart I knew something was wrong. We took him to a neurologist the next week and Carson had a myoclonic seizure in the neurologist’s office. We were admitted to Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, where we stayed for three days and every test imaginable was run on Carson. He was diagnosed with Idiopathic Infantile Spasms, a very rare (one in ten thousand children) and dangerous form of epilepsy. What causes Carson’s seizures is still unknown. Tests are still being done. We pray…a lot.
Carson was started on a twelve-week course of steroid shots that helps some kids with Infantile Spasms. At first he did amazing. No seizures at all. But as we lowered the dosage to wean him off the shots, the seizures came back. Carson takes medication to help control his seizures. The medicine makes him clumsy and grumpy and just not himself. He goes to the neurologist now, the lab to get his blood drawn, and home health care nurses now come to our home.
The statistics for Infantile Spasms are scary. 70% of kids who have IS have some form of developmental delay, ranging from mild learning disabilities to mental retardation. About half of the kids who have IS continue to have seizures throughout their lives. IS is characterized by seizures that come in clusters, and occur mostly as a child is waking up or falling asleep. Almost all of Carson’s seizures have been at bedtime, naptime, or early in the morning. Sometimes he will wake up in the night and have seizures.
We were desperate to do something for Carson. A friend told me about a not for profit organization called 4 Paws for Ability that specializes in training service dogs for children with disabilities, including seizure alert dogs. These dogs can sleep in the bed with your baby and alert you if he’s having a seizure. They can go to medical appointments and procedures and help keep your child calm. They offer companionship to kids who have seizures. These dogs improve the quality of life of sick kids, kids like Carson.
I filled out an application and we were accepted into the program at 4 Paws. I feel so blessed because 4-paws believes in early intervention. They believe that a seizure alert dog can start helping Carson, who is about to have his first birthday. Now we have the challenge of raising $13,000.00 to pay for this highly trained assistance dog. Carson’s dog will become his constant companion and will be able to recognize the signs of an oncoming seizure. Carson’s dog, will alert us before/during a seizure, and provide him comfort during medical appointments and uncomfortable procedures.
This dog will give our family peace of mind. We will be able to sleep again without the fear that Carson will have a seizure in the middle of the night and we won’t know. I want to change Carson’s life. This isn’t the kind of life he’s supposed to have, it can’t be. A life of needles, screaming, doctors appointments and seizures is not a life for anyone, let alone a one-year old beautiful little boy.
I know Carson’s dog cannot cure his illness, but if it makes any of this even a little easier for him, it’s the right thing to do.
A 4 Paws dog would be a life-changing gift for our family, a gift that would bring us some peace, a gift that would improve Carson’s quality of life. Carson needs your help to get this dog. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to 4 Paws For Ability, Inc. in honor of Carson. Make your check payable to 4 Paws for Ability, including “ In Honor of Carson Martin” on the memo line and mail to 4 Paws For Ability, Inc. 253 Dayton Ave, Xenia, Ohio 45385. No amount is too small, every little bit will help, and will be SO appreciated! You can also make a donation online by going to www.4pawsforability.org and clicking the make a donation link. Be sure to put “ In Honor of Carson Martin” on your donation
The Martin family, and all who love Carson, can’t thank you enough.