Meet Jackson! He is our big, lovable, sweet and energetic 6 year old boy. His smile just gets you. He loves big hugs, the Music Together Hello Song, Baby Einstein videos and doing backwards somersaults 
He’s is truly full of love as he will go up to anyone and give them a hug!
He’s the big brother to Tenley (5 yrs) and Bennett (1 yr). They have a special bond and love helping Jackson and being involved in his care.
Jackson was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, a rare seizure disorder found in young kids, when he was 16 months old. Our world was turned upside down when our sweet little boy was having 20-40 seizures a day which eventually turned into 50-70.
When most people think of a seizure disorder, they may think of someone falling to the ground and having all-over body convulsions. It is very obvious when that happens that there is something wrong. Many people seeing a seizure for the first time are quite scared and don’t know what to do.
A young child having infantile spasms, on the other hand, may just have little head drops that do not appear to be anything serious. However, it is a much more serious seizure disorder than the generalized convulsion. Not only is it difficult for the parent to realize that this is a seizure disorder, it is also challenging for pediatricians. (http://www.childneurologyfoundation.org/)
Jackson’s seizures have changed over time and he started having drop or atonic seizures. These seizures are very dangerous because he would bend quickly at the waist and fall unconscious to the floor and hit his face or head. He was a walking bruise for years. He was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in August 2012. LGS is a severe form of childhood onset epilepsy characterized by multiple seizure types, global developmental delays, an abnormal EEG and it is most often resistant to medications. (http://lgsfoundation.org/)
Besides being non-verbal, one of the biggest challenges that Jackson faces is the fact that his gross motor skills are developed fairly well but his cognitive skills are around a 12 month old level. This means that he can run and climb and get into things but have practically no idea that he could be seriously hurt. For this reason, Jackson needs constant supervision and monitoring. We have “Jackson-proofed” our basement so that he doesn’t have to be so confined and can have some freedom to move around. We have multiple video cameras in that area. Jackson mainly has seizures when he’s falling asleep or asleep. He has a difficult time staying asleep and many nights is up all night so he sleeps in a Safety Sleeper bed that zips closed. We can have peace of mind that he won’t get hurt or get into something in his room before we wake up and come check on him. We have 1 video camera in the room and one inside his bed. We are constantly watching for seizures. The seizures come and go so quickly that if you aren’t watching, you will miss them. The repetitive nature of the seizures causes him to be upset, restless and irritable.
Jackson also has sensory processing disorder. He is an under-responder and shows barely any reaction to pain or extreme hot or cold. In fact, he obsessively seeks ways to pinch his fingers, roll down the stairs, lay on hot asphalt and other dangerous activities to stimulate his senses.
Why a Service Dog??
Recently we were asked “Have you ever thought about a seizure dog?” We started gathering information and realized that a service dog could help Jackson become more independent. Jackson has been accepted for placement of a 4 Paws for Ability Service Dog that will be trained specifically for him as a Multipurpose Assistance Dog. Jackson’s dog will assist with the following:
Mobility – the dog will have a harness to assist Jackson and will provide support for balance
Behavior Disruption – the dog will be trained to do behavior disruption (touch, nudge, kisses, snuggle, deep pressure) to stop unwanted behaviors
Seizure Alert – the dog will be trained to sense and respond to seizures
Socialization – being a child with special needs is difficult. This dog will help bridge the gap between Jackson and his peers, aid in all therapies and simply provide companionship
About 4 Paws for Ability
4 Paws for Ability is a wonderful nonprofit, 501(c)(3), organization whose mission is to place quality service dogs with children with disabilities. They are committed to helping make children’s lives better! http://4pawsforability.org/
At 4 Paws it costs $22,000 to train and place a service dog with a disabled child. However, the families engage in fundraising activities as volunteers in support of the 4 Paws mission. Each family is asked to help raise at least $15,000. No amount is too small! We appreciate your support so much! It truly takes a village!
If you can help us with a donation, please visit the 4 Paws Donation Page (http://www.4PawsForAbility.org/donate-now). Include Jackson’s name in the “instructions to merchant” through PayPal. Donations can also be made by mailing a check to (Jackson Schnur in Memo Line):
4 Paws for Ability
In Honor of Jackson Schnur
253 Dayton Ave.
Xenia, OH 45385
For more information about Jackson’s journey, you can visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/actionforjackson or Email any questions to jeannieschnur@gmail.com
We sincerely thank you,
Carl and Jeannie Schnur
Many thanks for your support — and don’t forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!