My name is Heather Cromer and I am an NRV local, living in Christiansburg, VA. Our family is on a journey to help our 4 1/2 year old daughter, Molly, receive a life-saving, medical service dog.
Molly is a beautiful, funny, imaginative, wild, and fun-loving 4 year old who loves her people and animals fiercely. A few days after she was born, Molly was diagnosed with Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD). MCADD is an inherited disorder that prevents her body from breaking down certain fats and converting them into energy. As a result, the level of sugar in her blood can drop dangerously low (hypoglycemia). MCADD is a lifelong condition that Molly will never outgrow. Left untreated, hypoglycemia caused by MCADD can lead to seizures, breathing difficulties, coma, brain damage, and even death.
When Molly becomes sick, her body uses all of the energy it has to fight off the illness, often depleting her blood sugars and she ends up in the emergency department to be admitted for days of intravenous treatment to prevent metabolic crisis.
Molly's MCADD has affected her life in ways her family never imagined. She has not been able to attend school or church, she's never participated in sports, and she has had very few play dates with friends. This little girl who loves to live life to the fullest has had to miss out on so many experiences because of her medical condition.
Through the help of family and friends, Molly is on a new and exciting journey to receive a medical alert dog from 4 Paws for Ability. A specially trained glucose detection dog has the ability to detect when blood sugars are dropping and will signal to their owner that they are in danger. These dogs will retrieve medication and glucose supplements for their owner to ensure they receive timely treatment before a metabolic crisis. A medical alert service dog will be nothing short of life-changing for Molly, allowing her to attend school, church, sports, play, and just be a kid!
4 Paws for Ability invests thousands of hours and dollars into breeding, training, and matching the perfect dog with their handler. The family’s financial responsibility is over $17,000. Molly’s family hopes to raise awareness for MCADD and medical service dogs through fundraising efforts.
If you want to check out her Facebook group to learn more you can click here:
If you like to donate directly you can click here: https://www.mightycause.com/story/4pawsformolly
Thanks so much for considering partnering with us on this incredible journey with Molly.
