DUNNVILLE—Emery Maxwell may only be five years old, but she’s already battled more diagnoses and medical emergencies than many face in a lifetime.
Her mother, Bobbi Maxwell, is now asking for the community’s help in raising funds for a service dog that could help keep Emery alive.
“She’s got septo-optic dysplasia, optic nerve hypoplasia, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and celiac disease,” said Maxwell. “She’s legally blind, and her adrenal insufficiency can cause her to go into crisis – basically organ failure – which if left untreated, is fatal.”
Emery’s condition means her blood sugar can drop without warning. The family has learned that this sudden drop is a warning sign of an impending adrenal crisis, but it happens too fast for them to reliably catch.
“She crashes very quickly,” said Maxwell. “We’re doing sugar checks morning and night.”
Emery has had at least five confirmed adrenal crises. Her grandmother, Lori Snider, says there have been too many emergency hospital trips to count.
“One time she was at school, and she just told her teacher she didn’t feel good,” said Snider. “Within five minutes we were calling an ambulance. It happens that fast.”
The family believes a trained medical alert dog could change all of that. The dog would be trained to detect Emery’s sugar levels before they plummet, giving her caregivers precious time to intervene before a crisis occurs.
“Just knowing there’s that extra layer of precaution would give us peace of mind,” said Snider.
Maxwell also hopes the dog could be dually trained as a guide dog to assist with Emery’s vision. While Emery appears active and high-energy at home, her legal blindness limits her independence in unfamiliar spaces.
“She can run around here just fine because it’s familiar,” said Snider. “But take her to a splash pad and she can’t see the stairs under the water. She doesn’t know where it’s safe.”
A service dog could give Emery more freedom and confidence, especially as she continues in public school. Maxwell says she’s advocating for her daughter to be integrated as fully as possible into mainstream education with support, including a vision itinerant teacher and Braille materials.
“She’s super smart and so energetic,” Maxwell said. “She remembers everything – months later she’ll bring up something you said. She just never stops.”
While a service dog could be life-changing, the costs are daunting.
Suitable dogs are expensive to acquire, and the specialized training alone can cost between $10,000 and $20,000.
The family is currently working with a trainer from the Barrie area, but travel, assessments, and lodging also add up quickly.
“We had one dog lined up, but that donation fell through,” said Maxwell. “We’ve had others offered, but the breeds weren’t suitable. It needs to be a trainable breed like a lab or retriever.”
Maxwell recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with these costs.
In her online post, she explains the urgent need for a medical alert dog that could also be trained to assist with Emery’s vision.
“All donations will be put towards getting a dog, training, and travel for training,” she wrote. “Please help us get our girl the dog she needs to keep her safe.”
Emery was diagnosed shortly after birth and spent the first two months of her life in the NICU. Since then, her journey has been one of ongoing tests, hospital visits, and daily medication. She currently takes three medications, two of which she will be on for the rest of her life.
“Her sugar was basically undetectable when she was first taken to the NICU,” Maxwell said. “It’s been a journey since day one.”
The family says they’re not just raising funds – they’re fighting for Emery’s future.
“I don’t want to always have to be that helicopter mom,” said Maxwell. “If she wants to go to a play date or out with friends, I want her to be able to do that safely.”
To donate money, visit gofundme.com/f/help-emery-get-a-medical-alert-dog.
For those who wish to donate a suitable dog or help in other ways, the family can be contacted by email at elizabethmaxwell02@gmail.com.
