MEDIA: Assistance Dog in sights for Issac

Two years ago, worried parents Grant and Sarah Dodds began an online fundraiser for their son Isaac.

Six year old Isaac needed help to raise money for an assistance dog that would be able to help him with his life threatening condition.

Isaac’s very rare metabolic condition causes ammonia to build up in his body to dangerous levels. It can cause brain damage, coma or even be fatal.

So far, they have only been able to detect the toxic levels of ammonia through regular blood tests, sometimes finding them to be dangerously high without Isaac showing any sign of a problem.

His mother says it would be “life changing” to have an assistance dog that could smell when the ammonia has built up too much and alert them.

“This dog would also assist with other complex challenges in daily living functions enabling Isaac to have greater participation in family and community life and build his independence,” she shared on their mycause fundraising page.

Now eight years old, Isaac is much closer to getting his furry companion, which would cost the family $40,000 plus ongoing care costs.

150 donations to their fundraising page has raised $27,000 so far. 

This year, Isaac’s godfather – a board game developer – has also jumped in to help raise more funds.

Matt Humphreys will help raise awareness of the campaign and contribute funds from sales of his new board game, Racing Ogres.

Humphreys has loved developing games in his spare time and his latest is “a table top party game of bluff and prediction for up to eight people of all ages,” he told the St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.

Isaac himself has been involved in the testing of the many Racing Ogres iterations and prototypes, named official Game Tester.

All profits made from the initial print run of Racing Ogres will go to Isaac as payment for his game testing, helping him reach his goal and get his life-saving pal.

Check out other inspiring pages where people begin fundraising for their loved ones with different conditions or disabilities, or start your fundraising page by clicking the button below.