Bailee is a 2-year-old little girl with a life threatening peanut allergy. At six months Bailee had a bite of a peanut butter sandwich and immediately went into anaphylaxis. On the way to the hospital, paramedics were unable to stop the reaction with 2 Epi-Pens and she was nearly intubated.This changed her family's life dramatically. Not only does Bailee have to stay away from peanuts, she must be careful with cross-contamination from nuts (Items with nut ingrediants or items made in the same faciclity as something made with nuts).
Bailee’s allergy is so severe that she does not even have to eat something that contains nuts, she can just touch it and end up in anaphylactic shock. Most people do not understand the possible reaction of a nut allergy. Every time Bailee has a reactions there is no guarantee that she will survive it. With anaphylaxis, the body begins to shut down and the airway becomes restricted within moments. If no oxygen can get to the brain there is a serious risk of brain damage and /or death. The rest of Bailee's family has to be careful of what they come in contact with as well. This makes it very difficult to go out in the public. Bailee can not safely go to the park, birthday parties, Monkey Joes, Chuckie Cheese, or anywhere that she may come in contact with nuts or even residue from nuts. It has even been difficult to find childcare for her.
Bailee has been approved for and matched to a service dog named Fletcher through Angel Service Dogs Inc. Fletcher is being trained to alert any possible danger of nuts that Bailee might come in contact with. He will be able to detect elements of nuts in any form; raw, cooked, oil, butter, dust etc. as needed specifically for Bailee. When the RTGA raises the $12,000 still needed to secure Fletcher for Bailee, her family will make the 2 day drive to Colorado October 30 to start the November 1st two-week training class they need. If we are unable to raise the funds by October 17, Fletcher will have to graduate due to his age, and Bailee will be put on an up to 2 year waiting list for another dog.
