Miriam Fougere's Service Dog Fundraising Page

Hello!! My name is Miriam Fougere and I am 54 years old. Up until October of 2016 I was a very active and independent healthy person which very much enjoyed traveling, gardening, and running and swimming before starting my work days. I had just moved to Florida that summer to pursue advancement in my career as an Operations Manager when I was blindsided with an inability to run, swim or basically do anything without losing my breath. Being a super health conscious person and never even getting a cold I was primarily dismissed by doctors as having asthma or a mild case of bronchitis. Several stays at the hospital and a couple of broken ribs from severe coughing fits later no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I was finally referred to Mayo Clinic and after a year of trial and error, several diagnosis and treatments from different chemo-therapies and medications, I was finally diagnosed with Relapsing Polychondritis.

RP is a  rare autoimmune illness considered a chronic disorder of the cartilage with recurrent episodes of painful inflammation affecting the nose, ears, joints, spine, ribs, trachea and breathing passages. The eyes, heart and blood vessels are also affected. The cause of Relapsing Polychondritis is unknown. There is no known test for diagnosing RP and there is no specific treatment other than cortisone related medications which have caused my bones to become brittle and weak and break easily. The very necessary aggressive treatment has caused me to have several compression fractures in my spine which have caused severe spinal stenosis and now I’m constantly tripping and falling and dropping things. I can only move around with the help of a cane, a walker or a mobility scooter.

I have lost all independence and the ability to do most things by myself. I am unable to work as I can't stand, sit or walk for too long before I started having painful flare ups. I can't bend over because my trachea collapses and I can't breathe, also due to my fractures and because I can fall over.

My daughter moved in with me to help with my care and basic chores and with the help of her dog Layla I was able to get around and feel safe having her accompany me all day while alone at home. We became very close to the point that Layla, on her own, learned to assist me on basic things like picking things up and helping me with dressing and even helping me get up when I’d fall. Layla is not a certified Service Dog so she was unable to go places with me to assist me outside of the house.   My daughter and her fiance had the opportunity to buy their own home and have moved away with their dogs. As happy as I am for their success and life together I am not able to keep her dog; Layla is her dog, not mine. Layla changed my life but I had to let her go and live with her real “parents”.  

I need your help to gain my independence back and to feel safe again. My doctors have suggested that I get a service dog but the cost of a fully trained and certified service dog is something out of my reach. I have learned from this wonderful organization that provides trained and certified service dogs for qualified recipients called New Horizon Service Dogs in Orange City, Florida. I am now in a waiting list and can't wait for my turn to meet the newest member of my family.

The cost to train and place a service dog is approximately $25,000. NHSDI’s volunteer puppy raisers and trained staff breed, train and certify service dogs for disabled veterans, autistic children and qualifying persons with physical disabilities. The fully trained Service Dogs are given, at no charge, to deserving qualified recipients. New Horizons places approximately 42 dogs every year. 

New Horizons asks for your help to continue their mission of placing service dogs to those in need at no charge. New Horizons Service Dogs (NHSDI) was founded in 1995. A 501(c)(3), Federal ID 59-3334829, not for profit organization, New Horizons receives no government funding and is financed solely from fundraisers, donations and grants. Your donations are tax deductible. They are located at 1590 Laurel Park Court, Orange City, FL 32763

Your donation not only helps me but also NHSD to keep helping others. Your help will give me back not only much needed  independence but also companionship and  safety.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story and for your generous contribution!