Minden Boy Who Suffers from Epilepsy is on a Mission
Posted: 10:35 PM Jan 20, 2011
Reporter: Denise Wong
A 9-
His mother calls him her little angel. But Louis Navin is growing up. And the Pinon Hills Elementary School student wants to be able to do things without his parents' constant help. So far, it hasn't been easy. "Louis was born with epilepsy. He also has to wear his oxygen 14 hours a day," says Andi Navin, Louis' mother.
Two years ago, doctors implanted Louis with a generator. When he gets seizures, someone has to place a magnet over his chest, which sends electronic impulses.
"And you will see him as he starts to have a seizure, the second you put the magnet on him, he relaxes and lays back down," says Andi Navin.
That's why it's Louis' dream to get a service dog.
"The dog would later be trained to wear the magnet on its collar and then if Louis had a seizure the dog would lay its head on his chest and stop the seizure if the parents are not in the room," says Andi Navin.
And Louis' dream may come true. He's already found the perfect pet.
"The dog they picked out is a chocolate lab. Her name is Button," says Andi Navin.
"I thought it was very awesome and I liked it," says Louis Navin.
The only problem now: the dog costs $10,000. But Louis is determined and has already reserved her.
"Oh this is really exciting for Louis. Because Louis is such a great kid. And the opportunity for him to have even more access to the school environment with the use of a service dog would be fantastic for him and a great learning experience for all of our students as well," says Rommy Cronin, principal of Pinon Hills Elementary School.
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“Zandor” -
Breed -
Color -
Zandor has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. He has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. His “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. He has been medically cleared, microchipped, and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. Zandor may be optionally trained to assist with balance or to retrieve dropped items.
“Mozart” -
Breed -
Color -
Mozart has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. He has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. His “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. He has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. Mozart may be optionally trained to assist with balance or to retrieve dropped items.
“Shyla” -
Breed -
Color -
Shyla has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. She has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. Her “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. She has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. Shyla may be optionally trained to retrieve dropped items. Her small stature makes her easier to transport and maintain than some of the larger breeds.
Breed -
Marshall has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. He has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. His “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. He has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. Marshall may be optionally trained to assist with balance or to retrieve dropped items.
Marshall Is No Longer Available
“Kalar” -
Breed -
Color -
Kalar has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. She has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. Her “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. She has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. She may be optionally trained to assist with balance or to retrieve dropped items.
“Shady” -
Breed -
Color -
Shady has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. He has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. He “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. He has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. He may be optionally trained to assist with balance or to retrieve dropped items.
“Button” -
Breed -
Color -
Button has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. She has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. Her “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. She has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. She may be optionally trained to assist with balance or to retrieve dropped items.
Button Is No Longer Available
Boston knows when Karon Silva is in trouble. Unlike others in the Silva family, he
alone senses when the 6-
"We know now with him at least 24 hours before Karon has a seizure," said Elizabeth Silva, Karon's mother. "The only time it's not 24 hours is when she was sick and changed medication, and he knew maybe an hour or two before she had one.
"But Boston has been 100 percent accurate. He has not missed any since we got him. I lost count back in August. He can detect every one."
Boston is a dog. Not a doctor, but a 2½-
A fund has been set up in the name of Karon Silva at Amarillo National Bank to help
defray the $2,000 in costs for a trainer to certify Boston, a golden retriever, a
seizure-
If this sounds like some hokey 1950s episode of "Lassie," it goes beyond a TV script.
There are dogs, known as "seizure-
"There's no question there are dogs that pick that up," said Eric Saunders, a Nevada
dog trainer with 35 years experience. "It's been well-
Saunders, a specialist in this field, hopes to be in Amarillo this month to work with Boston for several days. That would certify the dog to accompany Karon to Wolflin Elementary School, to enter public facilities and be a constant health companion like a guide dog aids the blind.
Money is an issue for Silva, a single mother with two children who lives with her
father, Rick Barclay. They have half the money raised for Baron's certification.
It would be a 24-
"If we can have as much warning as Boston gives us to get Karon somewhere safe and watch her and know something's not right, she can actually live as a child," Silva said. "Instead, it's me always on top of her and her not being able to do things other girls can. Boston gives her a little bit of freedom and she gives me the security that she's OK if I'm not always around, that he's going to let us know."
Karon had her first seizures at 2 weeks old. She was diagnosed with epilepsy because of her metabolism at age 3 at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. She can average a seizure every two days, or can go as long as 13 weeks without them.
"But when they come back, they come back with a vengeance," said Silva of the seizures that affect her daughter's memory and recall.
Last Monday, Boston was able to warn the family in the hours before Karon had two grand mal seizures that required stays at Northwest Texas Hospital.
The family had Boston for all of four days in December 2007 when he saw Karon's first major seizure.
"He lost it," Silva said. "He was barking, growling, running back and forth. When it was over, we went into her room and Boston was lying down beside her."
That was after the seizure. Since then, Boston's behavior changes around Karon have been uncanny in predicting a seizure. He will become clingy to her and will not leave her side. That's the first tip that a seizure could occur within hours.
"If it's night and Karon wakes up and is about to have a seizure, he will pace back and forth between her room and to me and my dad," she said. "I mean it's obvious."
And the closer that Karon seems to be to a seizure, the more animated Boston can get.
"He'll turn and stare at you, and paw her like something is not right," Silva said. "If the seizure is closer, he'll pace around faster and faster. He literally will not eat or drink until after she's had one. After that, he will eat and go to the bathroom, and everything is all right."
Silva is hopeful she can reach a financial arrangement with Saunders, who operates Goldstar Dog Training in Pahrump, Nev. His additional training in sensory technique as well as obedience would allow Boston to be with Karon not only at home, but throughout the day.
"He could warn anyone when something is not right, not just us," Silva said. "Boston is an amazing dog."
Amarillo Globe News
Pooch Warns of Seizures
Dog helps child with epilepsy get to safe place
Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2009
Jon Mark Beilue
jon.beilue@amarillo.com
“Troi” -
Breed -
Color -
Troi has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. She has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified.
Her “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. She has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. She may be optionally trained to assist with balance, open doors, or to retrieve dropped items.
“Kaiden” -
Breed -
Color -
Kaiden has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. He has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. His “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. He has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. He is quite sturdy and may be optionally trained to assist with balance.
Shady Is No Longer Available
Zandor Is No Longer Available
“Major” -
Breed -
Color -
Major has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. He has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. His “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. He has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. Major may be optionally trained to assist with balance, open doors, or to retrieve dropped items.
“Trigger” -
Breed -
Color -
Trigger has been American Kennel Club, CGC certified. He has been temperament tested and is companion/assistance/service dog certified. His “service dog” status, under Federal ADA regulations, allows all public access with a registered owner. He has been medically cleared, microchipped and is covered under the Goldstar Health Guarantee. Trigger may be optionally trained to assist with balance, open doors, or to retrieve dropped items.
