I talk to people wherever I go, like a saleswoman, only I'm selling LIFE. I tell them about the children waiting internationally who, if not found and adopted will die in mental institutions and give them Reece's Rainbow's website: www.reecesrainbow.org.
I tell them about babies needing adoption in the United States who often will be aborted if families aren't standing by waiting to adopt them and the website for the National Down Syndrome Adoption Network (Robin Steele) at www.ndsan.org
I've struggled with the fact that I need to fundraise for another important thing at this time... because nothing seems as important as saving lives... but this is also about saving lives in another way, so here goes:
We are fundraising for a Service Dog for our children. Especially for Ella, because besides the Down syndrome, she also has classic symptoms of autism.
Going out in public has become more difficult because she will struggle to get away and dash into traffic. If she has an Autism/Multipurpose Service Dog, this would give her more independence as well as safety. She could be tethered to the dog out in public, allowing her a little more freedon (her hands free) but she couldn't get away and run into danger. This would allow our family to go out with more peace of mind. The dog would be trained to give comfort to the children in their many doctor's appointments. Stimming behaviors and meltdowns could be interrupted with affection from the dog. Having a Service Dog would also allow Ella to meet peers, because children would be interested in the dog, and be more likely to approach her. As she has no speech and her behavior is different, Ella doesn't make friends easily so children meeting her because of the dog would be a great help to her! The dog will be with her at all times and she will gain a best-friend attachment and learn nurturing. Because we must constantly guard against Ella or Joel wandering off, the dog will also be trained as a tracker. Can you imagine the peace of mind this could give us?!
Please go to the website of 4 Paws for Ability at www.4pawsforability.org to look around and read stories of other children who have already received their service dogs and how it works.
And please, if you can, donate to 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. for a service dog for Ella! The dogs are very expensive because they are so highly trained, specifically for the child(ren) they will belong to.
Please make checks out to: 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. Write Ella Wynkoop in the memo!
Mail to: 4 Paws for Ability, Inc. 253 Dayton Ave, Xenia, Ohio, 45385.
And GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
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