Most people take their health for granted. They do not think twice about performing daily activities such as going to work, shopping, doing household chores, exercising, traveling or going to a restaurant.

For me, I take nothing for granted. The most basic daily activities require careful planning. I suffer from medical conditions that impact my ability to lead my life on a carefree basis and require treatment with IGG infusions to treat my autoimmune disorders.

Despite my medical situation, I have chosen a path to lead my most normal life. I proactively and aggressively seek out the best medical professionals and treatments for my conditions.

I have an excellent support system of family and friends that I count on day in and day out but, I dont always want to rely on others for day-to-day basics and I value my independence. My quest for self-sufficiency led me to an incredible organization, Canine Partners for Life (CPL).

In the summer of 2015, CPL matched me with an incredible service dog, Ranger. For the past 8 years Ranger has been by my side supporting me 24/7. He has been a fantastic partner. Sadly, the time has come for Ranger to retire and enjoy his well-deserved vacation with us.

With every ending comes a new beginning. CPL has matched me with a successor, Bando a gorgeous lab who will be 2 years old in a short time. Bando will follow in Rangers footsteps and assist me with day-to-day chores. He will alert me to any autonomic disturbances that result in a change in blood pressure or heart rate. He will be at my side to lean on for balance and mobility and prevent me from falling. In a nutshell, he will be my new canine partner for life.

I met Bando recently and we had an immediate connection. He alerted me to POTS syndrome episodes. Each time he instinctively looked into my eyes as if to say Ive got your back . When we walked together, he continued to adjust his gait to mine, supporting me the entire time. Bando performed service dog skills each time I asked him to.

In June I will be attending team training for 2 1/2 weeks to start my partnership with Bando. My family and I have created this fundraiser page to raise money for CPL. Our goal is to exceed the $10,000 we raised 8 years ago. Please consider donating to this incredible non-profit organization that relies exclusively on public generosity. No gift is too small.

About CPL

Canine Partners for Life (CPL) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to training service dogs, home companion dogs, and residential companion dogs to assist individuals who have a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities.

Canine Partners for Life is a recognized and highly respected leader in the assistance dog industry. It was one of the first service dog organizations in the world to be accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). The total cost to raise, train, place, and provide lifetime support for each CPL dog is estimated to be more than $32,000. To learn more, please visit their website http://k94life.org/ or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Canine-Partners-for-Life/222566224426311.

How to Donate

Please click the "Give Now" button to contribute directly to CPL.

Thanks to all my loved ones for their uncompromising support.