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To help raise money for the dog, the Hasbrouck Heights Police Department is hosting a pasta dinner fundraiser next month.
Besides alerting others when she’s having a seizure, a service dog could do deep pressure massage to pull Marybeth out of an anxiety attack. It would also increase her sense of self-reliance and independence, which is extremely important at this stage of her life.
It’s been a tough stretch for the Hasbrouck Heights youngster, who has received various types of therapy since she was 10 months old for epilepsy and chromosomal deletion, a genetic disorder.
She recently had two 4-day video EEGs done of her brain. All showed several seizures a day.
She’s also been hospitalized three times this school year. It’s increased her anxiety over both the medication she must take and the possibility of a massive seizure.
WHAT: Get Marybeth a seizure service dog
WHERE: Hasbrouck Heights VFW, 513 Veterans Place
WHEN: 3 p.m. Sun., June 2
PRICE: $25/adult, $50/family
Raffle Tickets: $10 for an arm’s length (You don’t have to be there to win)
TICKETS/INFO: Joanne Inglesby (HHPD): (201) 288-6019
For those familiar with the terms, Marybeth has had different types of seizures – among them: absences, myoclonic, tonic clonic, drop, and complex partial.
As she gets older, her medications must be adjusted.
Whether she’s in her room playing, in the shower, or even sleeping, someone must watch over her.
During the night, her mother keeps her hand on Marybeth’s back to check her breathing. She sometimes awakens, startled, afraid for her daughter’s well-being.
A service dog could change that, helping everyone in the household rest a bit easier.
If you can’t attend the dinner, you can still mail a donation to:
Hasbrouck Heights Police
PBA 102 / Marybeth Barrios
248 Hamilton Avenue
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604
ATTENTION: Joanne Inglesby
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