Donate

Hi my name is Willow. I’m 15 years old, and I am raising money in support of Kingston 4 Paws Service Dogs. 

When I was younger, for several years, I was subjected to a series of traumas which have left me with extreme post-traumatic stress disorder, severe depression, severe anxiety, a panic disorder, along with physiological somatisations like seizures and blackouts.  I have night terrors almost daily, and have digestive and mobility issues. Over the past two years, I've been hospitalised twice as a result of the psychological and physiological scars of my past. Even though I’m safe now, I’m still unable to go outside of my house without having a panic or anxiety attack. This has affected my life so much that I struggle to do basic things. I haven’t been able to attend school properly for nearly three years, and some days I even struggle to get out of my room.

This has been my life for the past 3 years.

But a while ago, I was given something I thought I’d never have again… hope. I was accepted to be on the Kingston 4 Paws’ waiting list, for a Service Dog which would be trained specifically for me and my needs.

This will be a life-changing experience for me. With my service dog at my side, I feel I will finally be able to go outside of my house, go to school, go shopping, travel, and do so many other things I’ve been unable to do for so long. My service dog would be there for me 24/7. It would help me through the PTSD flashbacks, help calm my anxieties, and help stabilise me physically when I encounter mobility issues. It would ground me in reality and reassure me that my past can’t hurt me anymore. Just knowing that I’m on the waiting list is enough to keep me motivated, to keep fighting, and trying to get better, each and every day.

I can’t change my past, but I’m trying to heal from it, and look forward to a brighter future. I hope to be a physician or psychiatrist one day, to help young children who’ve lived through traumatic experiences like me.
 
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
 
Willow

Please select a gift amount and frequency, or enter a different contribution amount in the box below.

If the donation is to be made in tribute to someone special or to the occasion of an event, please provide the following details.

Please type the cardholder name as it appears on the credit card.