Ryleigh Lambright Service Dog Fund
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
4 Paws for Ability IncWe are raising money to get our 5 year old with a rare form of epilepsy a service dog.
$11,235
raised by 117 people
$20,000 goal
Update #4
We have officially met our fundraising goal for Ryleigh’s service dog!!!! 🙌🏻💜🥳🦮. We couldn’t have done it without the generosity of this amazing community. A huge thank you to everyone who donated money or items for our yard sale (we made $1,500!!), shared our story, helped brainstorm and execute ideas, Chapel Hill for doing a fundraiser, Chick-fil-a for hosting a fundraiser, Fox News 17, Lyster Exteriors, one dime at a time making a difference, Zoetis, Portage Northern and more. I’m sure I’m missing some people but please know how touched we are that you took time out of your day to make a dream become a reality for our sweet girl. Now we just wait about two years for her new 4 legged best friend to be ready to meet her!! 💜🦮
We are happy to introduce you to our 5 old daughter, Ryleigh. She is the sweetest, happiest girl who loves swimming, her pack of stuffed animal dogs, watermelon, and her two big brothers. Despite all the challenges life has thrown at her, Ryleigh has really taught us all how to embrace life, live it to the fullest, and find joy in every day.
Ryleigh was born with a cleft lip and palate, along with a few other medical complications, and had 8 surgeries in the first two years of her life. Around her 3rd birthday, we noticed some quick episodes that appeared seizure-like. An EEG confirmed that she has generalized epilepsy. We have tried 9 different medications in the last two years and a strict medical ketogenic diet for a year to try and control her seizures, but nothing was giving her any control. Her seizures continued to get worse despite our best efforts, and in December, we repeated an EEG, which led to the diagnosis of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare and severe form of intractable epilepsy.
In addition to her epilepsy, she also has some balance and mobility issues due to her legs being externally rotated. We’ve discussed options with her team of therapists, doctors, and friends and came to the conclusion that a service dog could really benefit her and give her some freedom to be a kid. Our hope is that a dog will help her navigate stairs/curbs and provide some stability for her when she’s walking outside on uneven terrain. A dog can also help alert us to any seizures she may have, as well as being a wonderful source of comfort and support for her during life and her many trips to PT, OT, speech, and her whole host of specialists.
We did a lot of research on where to find a service dog that would be the best fit for Ryleigh, and our search led us to 4 Paws for Ability. We were thrilled when she was accepted into their program and approved to get a service dog. They have the ability to provide Ryleigh with a multipurpose dog that can be used for mobility assistance, alert for seizures, and to provide her comfort after a seizure. It is a long process and will take a couple of years to get a dog, and the $20,000 cost to raise and train a dog specifically to her needs is a lot. But we strongly feel a service dog will improve her quality of life in a wonderful way that makes it worth it. If you feel led to help our sweet girl get her service dog, there are a few ways you can donate.
You can donate on Mighty Cause or mail donations directly to 4 Paws. Please be sure to write “Ryleigh Lambright” in the memo line to ensure the donation goes to her.
4 Paws for Ability
In Honor of Ryleigh Lambright
207 Dayton Ave.
Xenia, Ohio, 45385