Holiday.Service dog extrodanaire
"The task ahead of you, is never as great as the power behind you." Dear Friends and Family,
After 8 1/2 months, a momentous event has occurred in my life; I've been matched with a Service Dog!! This entire process was expected to take 2 ½ years, but, through my volunteer work, lots of telephone calls, letter-writing, and time spent networking, I was granted this
much needed gift from Susquehanna Service Dogs much earlier. I can't describe how much I am looking forward to having my own Service Dog. It means living more independently, it means regaining the ability to work and to be active when my disease would normally have me stuck in bed. If you don't already know, I am someone who is fighting a chronic illness called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) since 2003 and a rare blood clotting condition. The severity of my illness wasn't discovered until I was injured in the line of duty as a police officer Salisbury, Maryland Police Department. Since then, I have suffered blood clots, ten heart attacks (my first being when I was diagnosed in 2003), wounds to both legs, and finally, my left leg amputation in 2006. I've been fortunately blessed with the strength of loving family and life-long friendships. Through training together, Dyson will learn my personal physical needs so that he can assist me when I'm in my wheel chair, or help me if I fall and I am unable to get up. We will train Dyson to summon help (by dialing 911 on a special phone) if I am unconscious, and train him in retrieving my cell phone. A service dog can open and close doors, retrieve various items, pull a manual wheelchair, open door and drawers, find the phone, get help, dial 911, do balance work, turn light switches on and off and more. It’s hard to ask for help especially during tougher economic times but, here I am. It's worth a shot, right? The total costs associated with rendering and training of my Service Dog were $7,000. I've come up with $4,500 on my own, which leaves a $2,500 deficit. I begin training with Dyson at Keystone Human Services https://www.keystonehumanservices.org/donate/?f=10 on February 3rd through the 21st. Housing, meals, transportation and public training are the extent of my remaining cost. My hope is that you'll help me cover the remaining $2,500 with your donations of any amount. Any monies in excess of that amount will go back to Susquehanna Service Dogs, in hopes that they'll pass it on to someone else that may be in my same tough situation. I spoke with Nancy Fierer from Susquehanna Service Dog who said since part of the money raised would be going towards my housing for the three weeks i am there to donate in the following way:
If you wish to donate directly to me, please make checks payable to:
1.Paypal
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-click&hosted_button_id=CAZ75EMN848HY
Brandon C Holiday
Memo line Service Dog Donation
Po Box 739
200 Chester Avenue
Moorestown, NJ 08057
If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please let me know by email: [email protected] or by contacting me on my mobile
Thank you for reading and for your considerations. My love to all and best wishes for you in 2013.
