Alyssa lost her sight when she was merely 4 years old and started having up to 20 seizures per day.
A service dog named Flint was given to Alyssa as a gift. This incredible dog changed her life to say the least.
11 year old Alyssa is given a shot at a more normal life due to her companion. This amazing dog apparently alerts her family of her seizures, guiding her so she does not trip and fall allowing her to have a bit more freedom.
Alyssa’s mother Juliette Palomaki said, Flint gives her companionship to enjoy small moments when she does things she likes to do, and if she has a bad day, she just calls him and they just sit together.
Usually service dogs are trained in order to help people with seizures, but not enough dogs are trained to deal with children suffering from epilepsy, Austin and other disabilities.
In order to handle a dog alone in public minors are usually required to be at least 16 years old.
Having service dogs allows children to feel more comfortable, free at school, parks and restaurants. Alyssa’s grandmother used to take care of her during night in case of any seizures, but now the service dog is more than enough to look after her while she is sleeping and no one is required to guard at night.
According to Palomaki soon after they got Flint, Alyssa wanted to start sleeping on her own with him.
Animal behaviorist Brandon McMillan said, that life should not be so complicated for a 5 year old. He encourages every parent to consider giving their children a dog if the child has a certain condition. “Give them a dog. The dog opens up a world for this child. It’s important for a child’s life.”
According to researchers and scientists, the pooches smell a chemical change when a person is about to seize, they just do not agree with the fact that dogs can do it too.
Dogs are trained at the training centers to bark in order to give signals of seizure so an adult can take certain precautionary measures and give the child proper medicine.
Whenever Flint detects a seizure, he will lick her, become extra cautious, lie on her and bark.
According to Palomaki whenever they hear him bark, they know something is up because he does not bark for any other reason.
She also added that “Alyssa can walk, talk and even read the whole Braille alphabet with one good hand. She’s a true joy, and they are a dynamic duo.”
