Hi! My name is April and I am Anderson’s mom. We live in Louisville KY with our six children, so life is very busy! I know so many of you have been following our journey for the last year, but only those closest to us know the depths of the challenges Anderson has faced since his first anaphylactic shock last May. Diligent avoidance and careful navigation of surroundings has always been a way of life for him, but his sensitivity change after that event has presented a heightened need for caution. As a result, he has a great deal of anxiety in spaces outside the safety of our home. His preference is to be at home most of the time. By the grace of God, as well as by the care of a wonderful team and solid perseverance toward healing, Anderson has made tremendous strides in regaining normalcy in his life. I am in awe of the work the Lord has done, and I’m so proud of Anderson! Sadly, we just aren’t where we need to be. He’s still limited to foods that are made in a nut free facility, as we have no way to know if there has been cross contamination. And it’s especially challenging with the anxiety of food recalls even in “safe” foods. As a result, he has dropped to about 15 preferred foods. While other kids run outside to play and look for fun, Anderson constantly assesses his environment for deadly threats. Are there any food items present? Have other kids eaten anything lately that may still be on their hands? Is the residue on the ball? Is anyone going to touch me? Will it be dangerous? Anderson walks around public places with his hands in his pockets. When he encounters a public door he needs to enter, he will wait for another person to open it until he can go through it in case someone has touched it with an allergen on their hands. He will not touch his food with his hands. He has had a very different childhood. Through a lot of prayer and discernment, we have made the exciting (and somewhat overwhelming) decision to move forward with a service companion for Anderson. With that, we have found ourselves in the process of raising funds for this very specialized service dog for his very specific medical needs. This service dog will alert him to substances on surfaces and in food undetectable to humans that are deadly to Anderson. It’s agonizing watching him miss out on so many things that children should be able to do like camps, attending school in person, and visits to friends houses without being on edge the entire time. After a scary incident at summer camp, we were led again to the idea of a service dog. And oddly enough, after months of searching, that very same day as the camp incident, I received a return call from an amazing trainer who is willing to work with us! In early 2024, Anderson will be matched with a puppy who will learn to detect his allergens in food and on surfaces, and his return to food freedom will grow exponentially! That brings me to this page. We are humbly asking for help in making this dream a reality. Grants can cover some of the cost of the extensive training and care these dogs undergo for 12-18 months. We have started that process, hopeful that he qualifies. However, each family that receives a service dog is required to come up with the remaining $15,000 and an additional $3,000 for the two-week family assimilation training and additional expenses. We have saved and worked to start this process, but we ultimately have the goal to raise $15,000 for this specialized service dog. Once half the money has been raised, they begin training Anderson’s dog. We will need to have the full amount within twelve months. Here is the website to learn more about the organization if needed. I hope you will consider donating to the cause as it will give Anderson a freedom he has never known and provide a means for him to have independence as an adult. Website and contact if you would like to validate the cause: https://www.noseydogdetectionpartners.com/testimonial/liberty/ Thank you again for taking the time to consider Anderson’s cause. In Him, The Schrengers
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