Hi, my name is Gillian Rose. I have severe epilepsy. I have had 20-100 seizures a day since I was born. I am eight but I am less than 2 developmentally. I’ve spent months at Children’s hospital, in critical condition. I have tried 17 medications that all failed to control my seizures and endured numerous tests. I need a seizure support dog to help me through each challenging day.

I wear a helmet to protect my head from injury when I collapse from a seizure. I can’t talk so when I get excited I scream. It is the only way I know how to express my joy and enthusiasm at life. Usually if I scream it means I am feeling good and not having seizures. I’m quiet on days when I am seizing a lot. Seizures make me tired so I nap each day and on bad days I just seizure and sleep, seizure and sleep. But I love life and people. I love to at least touch if not kiss you when I meet you. I love animals too; dogs, cats, birds, and hamsters, I’ll hug and kiss them too. My mommy calls me the “Love Bug”.

I am Liz, Gillian’s mom, she is our angel girl. She glows with warmth and love for all who get close to her; touching and kissing whoever comes close. She smiles day after day through all her many challenges and despite all her thousands of seizures. She is a real blessing from God.

Gillian was diagnosed with severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy (Dravet's Syndrome) at nine months of age. I thought they would give her a pill and all would be fine. Unfortunately, this isnot the way it works with Dravet's syndrome. After 17 meds, the ketogenic diet and a Vagus Nerve Stimulator Implant. I have come to accept that we can not control Gillian’s seizures. The best we can do for Gillian is adapt her environment for her to make it the safest we can for her. We gate her into the living room which is carpeted (more Gillian friendly) and pad the gates as she usually likes to watch us in the kitchen but inevitably seizures, hitting the gate on the way down. She wears a helmet for protection and is now getting a walker for school and when she is out in the community on cement that will keep her safe from falling resulting in injury and give her the opportunity to explore her environment without being hung on to. A seizure support dog is another way we believe we can help her and protect her and give her more independence; to know that she is never alone, that her dog will alert us if she needs us.

Gillian has always needed one to one support and constant care and attention. She can not be left alone even to retrieve the laundry from the downstairs for fear she will seizure when no one is around or get into a dangerous situation because she has no understanding of danger.

To help us to give Gillian some independence with the support of a seizure support dog see our How You Can Help page.