“When we first met Acorn, it was such a profound feeling.”
It was a moment of relief for Francesca, who applied for a 4 Paws service dog with one goal in mind—finding an organization that prioritized helping kids with disabilities. “It was like a missing piece of our family was finally home—a family member we didn’t even know was missing. She instantly blended into our family,” she says.
“When we first applied to 4 Paws for Ability, we were parents navigating our first child, and our first child with special needs,” Francesca remembers. “We chose 4 Paws for Ability for their dedication to children with all kinds of disabilities.”
Service dog Acorn (formerly known as Baby) provides life-saving assistance for Vincent in emergency situations, including seizure detection and search-and-rescue tracking, in case Vincent elopes. It didn’t take long for Acorn to showcase her skills either.
“Within the first six months of Acorn being home, she alerted to a seizure with four hours’ advanced notice, giving me precious time to prepare for the seizure, which ended up happening at school. I was able to warn the staff and teachers in advance, and they were able to quickly and accurately care for him,” she says.
“It was nothing short of amazing.”
Acorn’s training also includes behavior disruption for self-injurious behavior, helping to de-escalate moments of high stress for Vincent.
“We now have the freedom to do things we haven’t been able to do in the past,” Francesca says. “We are eternally grateful for every supporter, every donation, every volunteer, and every staff member at 4 Paws for Ability.”
“She gives us crucial advance warning of seizures and allows us to ensure our son’s safety. I don’t know what we would do or where we would be without her.”