'Thank you for saving my life'
GOLDEN DOODLE SERVICE DOG PROTECTS MICHIGAN WOMAN FROM SEIZURES
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — When you enter Kiara Williamson’s Southfield home, the first thing she asks you to do is pray for her.
The 23-year-old has cerebral palsy and cri du chat, a chromosomal disorder, and a seizure disorder. She often experiences two to 45 seizures per day and needs constant attention.
Kiara, whose dad is a minister, believes in the power of prayer. And the family has found an answer to some of those prayers — a 60-pound dog.
Diego, a golden doodle, is a specially trained service animal that can sense when Kiara is about to have a seizure and protect her from harm. The cuddly canine has transformed the family’s life, said Kiara’s parents, the Rev. Daniel and Anitra Williamson.
When Kiara’s seizures start and she starts to bite or slap herself, Diego will nudge her, wedging his face between hers so he takes the blow.
Anitra Williamson said she didn’t take a shower for 20 years unless daughter Kiara was within arms’ reach for fear of losing her to a seizure.
“When Kiara first got Diego, she said ‘thank you for saving my life,’” Anitra Williamson said. “I knew he would impact Kiara’s life, but I never realized how much he would impact my life.”
Magnolia Paws for Compassion is a program created by Eisai with the objective to increase access to animal assistance and raise awareness of the benefits that animal interaction can provide to those coping with an illness. One part of this effort includes Eisai’s partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation and 4 Paws for Ability that focuses on
the training and placement of service dogs, to highlight the support that animal assistance can provide to families affected by epilepsy or seizure disorders.
The Williamsons’ journey to get Diego started seven years ago when the family was living in the Clarkston school district.
Anitra Williamson applied for a service dog for Kiara. Nine months later, her request was denied because Kiara was unable to handle the dog by herself.
Discouraged, Anitra waited about four years before trying again.
“I was at the University of Michigan and there was a doctor there who had been with Kiara for years, Dr. Daniel Teitelbaum; and he was like, ‘I really think you should pursue it,’” said Anitra. “He said just because one person told you no, don’t get discouraged.”
Anitra went online and found Karen Shirk, the founder of 4 Paws for Ability. Shirk started the organization as the result of her own struggle to find a service dog.
Shirk said it didn’t matter that Kiara couldn’t handle the dog — another adult could.
But they’d need to raise $10,000.
“Once you raise your part, then 4 Paws would put in the rest,” Anitra Williamson said.
Between a bowling fundraiser, donations and help from 4 Paws for Ability corporate sponsor Eisai, the Williamsons were set and the family was placed on a two-year waiting list.
After Diego was born, the training was intense.
Every time Kara was having a seizure, Anitra would take off her shirt, double bag it and send it to 4 Paws.
“We had like 45 to 60 shirts we purchased. We had to send them in every day to Ohio,” said Anitra. “We had to send a video of Kiara having seizures, Kiara going to school and going to church, and they’d go over the video with Diego sitting right there. … The dog needs to bond with the child.”
Once Diego was ready, the Williamsons had to travel to Xenia, Ohio, for 12 days of training. On the third day, Diego came to the hotel to stay with the family.
Kiara’s parents and her caregiver, Ilea Lyons, attended the training. Afterward, the family and Diego were taken to a local mall for a test.
“They put meat, cheese and everything down on the floor,” said Anitra. “The dog isn’t supposed to eat or you have to start all over with the training. Diego passed with flying colors. He’s very mildmannered and laid-back.”
Diego has been with the Williamsons since Dec. 9. Kiara had a cheerleading outing days after Diego arrived in Michigan.
“I didn’t know how he was going to do because it was my first time without the trainers,” said Anitra. “He did awesome. He didn’t get up. There was no barking. Nothing.”
Kiara and Diego will be part of history at the Lamphere Center, a program for special needs in Madison Heights. Kiara graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 2011 and will attend the Lamphere Center until she is 26.
Lamphere special education director Stephanie Siems made trips to Ohio to meet with the Williamsons and Diego. She also had to get the facility ready to care for Diego’s needs.
“Starting in September, he’ll be the first service animal that we’ve had here at Lamphere Center; it’s going to be very exciting,” said Siems. “This actually started about 18 months ago when we first had to determine if we had any students that had fear of dogs or allergies. At that time, we determined that we had some students that had phobias.”
Siems said the school contracted with therapists from Oakland University to help the students get used to the idea of a dog in the environment.
The result so far is positive, she said.