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Charleston, SC
29425
843-792-1414
800-424-MUSC
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Seizure assist dog proves
perfect match for Goose Creek resident
by Cindy Abole
MUSC Public Relations
Friday, March 3, 2006
When
nine-year-old Abigayle Williams arrived at MUSC Children’s Hospital
last Monday to begin a weeklong stay, she carried with her personal
items and necessities that would help make her visit comfortable.
She also brought Katya, her three-year-old seizure assist dog.
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Katya gives her best friend, Abigayle, a
kiss during their stay at MUSC. Katya, a seizure assist dog,
was presented to Abigayle to protect her during seizure
episodes. However, the training involved in preparing a
special dog like Katya can be costly. The Williams' family is
seeking funding assistance to officially acquire her.
Donations can be made to the Abigayle Williams Fund at any
First Federal bank. |
For almost two
years, Abigayle suffered from seizures which was the result of a
rare neurological disease, Neuro-bibromatosis Type 1, diagnosed from
birth. Although medications help, Abigayle’s seizures continued to
chip away at her confidence and independence and affect her quality
of life.
Less than a month ago, Abigayle was introduced to a
three-year-old German shepherd named Katya. Her parents, Cheryl and
Donald Williams of Goose Creek, first learned about the benefits of
seizure assist dogs through the Lowcountry Epilepsy Foundation.
Reared and trained by professional dog trainers Murray and Eve Craft
of Crafty K9 in Columbia, Katya was trained to become a seizure
assist service dog because of her confidence and intelligence,
according to Eve.
Thankfully, both girl and dog clicked
right away.
“From the very beginning we knew Abigayle needed
Katya,” said Cheryl. “What we didn’t know right away was just how
much Katya needed Abigayle. It was a perfect match.”
In
their early days when Abigayle had a seizure, Katya would lay her
body across Abigayle’s legs and lick her hands and face until the
episode subsided. Thanks to continual training arranged by the
Crafts, Katya is capable of positioning herself to prevent Abigayle
from falling and injuring herself during a seizure episode. At
times, she is able to alert others about an impending seizure even
minutes before it begins— a mystery trainers, animal experts and
researchers have yet to understand.
Abigayle was admitted by
her pediatric neurologist, Bernard Maria, M.D., and MUSC Pediatric
Epilepsy Program director Robert Turner, M.D., in attempt to record
and study her seizures on video EEG.
According to Turner,
seizures in both children and adults occur in about 1 percent of the
world’s population. Sometimes, seizures are the result of a head
injury, brain tumor or other acquired factors, but most commonly,
epilepsy results from genetic influences not yet fully understood.
Because of the unpredictability, seizures can present at any age and
at any time.
Last week, both girl and dog could be found
around the vicinity of 7A. They are inseparable and the best of
friends. Even the house and nursing staff, as well as the generally
curious, tried to steal a glimpse of the girl and her remarkable
dog. Aside from the presence of visiting therapy dogs, Katya is the
first medical service dog accommodated to stay overnight with a
special needs patient at the Children’s Hospital. Katya’s presence
meets the state and federal guidelines regarding the rights of the
physically disabled and American with Disabilities Act which grants
individuals to be accompanied and accommodated in public places by a
medical service dog.
“One doesn’t need to be a dog or animal
lover to see the love and natural bond between this child and this
dog,” said Joanne Kohler, R.N., who was Abigayle’s nurse during most
of her stay. “I am in awe of what this dog is capable of doing.
Watching them together is really quite touching.”
“We were
ready and waiting when we received a call from the Williams family
seeking information about obtaining a seizure assist dog for
Abigayle,” Eve said, who only years earlier experienced similar
challenges caring for their son, Josiah, who also suffered from a
seizure disorder. “Most service dog organizations that provide
seizure assist dogs have a waiting list of at least two to three
years. I can’t imagine anyone needing a dog for their child and
having to wait years to get help. Thankfully, we are learning so
much from this experience and we hope to be able to help other
families.”
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