Caring community helps families realize Angel Parsons’s dreams

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Thanks to a mighty fund-raising effort, Debbie Kinney and her granddaughter, Angel Parsons, are set to travel to Xenia, Ohio in September to pick up a service dog for Angel from 4 Paws For Ability, Inc., an organization that provides four-legged companions worldwide to people with disabilities.     The fund-raising began late last summer, with the goal to raise $15,000 to purchase the animal. That goal was reached following a benefit supper held in March.
Other events held to raise money for the cause over the past seven months included a car wash at the Presque Isle Fire Department, a garage sale, a bake sale, a quilt raffle and a float in the Christmas Light Parade in December. Donation buckets were also placed throughout the community, as well as at a few businesses in the Waterville-Augusta area. Service organizations also provided donations.
“Everyone was very supportive of it,” Kinney said.
Parsons, 7, resides with Debbie Kinney and her husband, Conrad, along with Angel’s brother, Ethan. Parsons was born prematurely and has had a number of medical issues that have made life difficult. But through it all, she’s made the most of it, living life to the best of her ability thanks to the loving care of family and friends.
“She was 2 or 3 when the seizures were diagnosed. She had multiple small seizures on a daily basis. Developmental delays were also noted at that time. Her cardiomyopathy was suspected and confirmed the next year, as well as a mitochondrial disorder that same year,” said Kinney.
Parsons attends school at Pine Street Elementary School, where she is going to be a second-grader this fall. But health issues make it difficult for her to attend school, given the fact she can have seizures at any time.
“She receives physical, occupational and speech therapy weekly. She likes school but it’s difficult, given all her health issues,” said her grandmother.
Kinney said thanks to the recommendation of a Waterville pediatrician’s office, there is hope for Parsons to enjoy daily activities. “The center recommended a service dog that is specifically trained to work with kids with special needs, including epilepsy,” said Kinney.
Kinney said a dog will be a blessing, giving caregivers – including teachers – assistance in detecting when Parsons is likely to have a seizure.
“This multi-assist service dog will be so beneficial to Angel,” said Kinney. “It’s about her medical needs and safety.”
With the dog’s help, Kinney hopes to find a way to get the seizures under control. She said Parsons often forgets things she’s learned during the day following a seizure, creating frequent setbacks in the child’s learning process.
“The dog will provide emotional and physical support. Angel is traumatized by medical procedures, so the dog would help with that aspect, helping to calm her at the most stressful times,” said Kinney.
Kinney filmed and documented her granddaughter’s behavior in different situations, so that 4 Paws For Ability would be able to pair the child with the appropriate dog. She also recorded Angel’s interactions with a variety of dogs.
“They wanted to find the right breed for her and train it to meet her needs,” said Kinney.
She said upon arrival in Ohio, they will go through a 10-day training period and after that will bring the dog back to Maine.
“We’ll have to practice with the dog three times a day and they will be in complete communication with us for the first year to make sure the dog is the right one for Angel,” Kinney said.
Kinney was very appreciative of all the donations that have poured in over the past several months.
“I thought that $15,000 was a lot to raise for a small community that we reside in, but the service dog organization had informed us that anyone who has attempted to raise funds for a dog has always been successful, and they were right,” Kinney said. “The support was overwhelming.”