A family in Nassau County needs help in finding a companion after their teenage daughter was diagnosed with a debilitating condition.
Kayla Davis, 18, said she hopes to attend college in the fall with a service dog, but the price tag is putting a strain on the family.
Since she was seven, Kayla Davis has been set on a collegiate softball scholarship. “It basically took up most of my life," Davis said. "Basically, all I did was softball and school.”
A few months ago, Davis came down with the flu. She was later diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy, a condition that causes her to collapse without warning.
“Now I can’t play softball, and moving away would kind of be difficult now with everything that’s happening,” Davis said. Softball is out of the question, but Kayla is still determined to have a normal college career.
Her mother, Susan Davis, said that might not be possible without a service dog. “She’ll be standing there and then she’s just on the ground," Susan Davis said. "She hits anything that’s in the way."
Jacksonville mother to donate medical equipment to toddler living with microcephaly
There’s a one to four year waiting list for service dogs.The family already has a dog but training it could cost the about $15,000-$30,000.
“The dog can break her fall," Susan said. "The dog can protect her while she’s down because she can’t move. If she hits her head then the dog can get help.”
The family has raised more than $500 toward training, but they’re still looking for support.
Kayla's days as an athlete might be over but she said she wants to continue working toward a career that she’s equally excited about.
The family is accepting donations at its GoFundMe page.
Cox Media Group
