Hello! My name is Alec Momenee-Duprie.
I'm a 26 year old man with a passion for linguistics, creative expression, community, and performance arts. I've done a lot of things in my life and I feel incredibly lucky for all the experiences I've been able to have. I have lots of dreams that I still want to make a reality - everything from getting the degrees I need to be a translator to making active contributions to the Portland Jewish community, even learning how to blow glass as an apprentice. Since my condition became more aggressive a few years ago, though, another part of my life gets in the way.
Having a rare neurological condition doesn't always make life easy
Familial Hemiplegic Migraine is a genetic disorder that effects each patient a little differently. For me, at least once a week I suffer from painful migraine attacks with some very disabling symptoms. They make me unable to speak or understand any words for hours, give me paralysis on one half of my body that takes days to fully subside, give me visual impairment, and leave me exhausted and brain fogged. Sometimes I can't even swallow for a while! They come on with very little warning and sometimes trigger ataxia - an additional condition that impairs balance, coordination, and eye movement - that can last for months and greatly interferes with my daily life. As a rare neurological condition, not much is known about Hemiplegic Migraines and no medication has worked to ease my symptoms so far.
If you want to learn about Hemiplegic Migraines you can read a bit about them here
A canine partner could change my life
Service Dogs are an ADA recognized disability aid and perform trained tasks to help their handler with everyday things such as fetching objects and medications, opening and closing doors, guiding around obstacles, alerting to specific medical events, etc. I will be working with a fantastic agency called Mission Working Dogs to help train my service dog to perform tasks that will greatly help me manage to live my life to the fullest through my neurological and psychiatric symptoms. The freedom, confidence, and independence that service dogs give many disabled folks is like taking a breath of fresh air after years of struggling to gasp for breath.
Unfortunately, life-changing isn't cheap
Service dogs are more than worth the cost for the quality of life they provide, but there are many expenses that come with them. The cost of the dog itself; the costs of veterinary care, food, and toys that come with all dogs; specialized equipment such as harnesses, bringsels, vests, and guide handles - it adds up quickly. The high costs are often a difficult barrier for disabled folks who struggle to be able to work consistently due to their disability. As a young man who has had to take significant holds on my professional development due to my condition I need some help to afford the high upfront costs of getting started.
Here's where you come in!
Any amount you're able to give goes a long way and is deeply appreciated. Think of each dollar you give as a day where I can more safely participate in work and life, a potential injury from a fall that you've saved me from, or a pothole that you've successfully guided me around! If you can't give, sharing is a contribution that can make a huge impact. Be it Instagram, Facebook, or a text with a link, sharing this page would be a huge help in making sure this fundraiser gets seen.
Who wouldn't want to see an adorable puppy grow up?
As thanks for your generous donation, you will receive bi-weekly updates about the growth and training of my service dog once the homing process is complete (ideally within 8 to 10 weeks) and about our experiences as a service dog and handler pair. I want to make sure you are able to see the real impact of your contribution and maybe even learn about what the process of service dog training looks like from the handler's perspective. These updates will be sent to you via email and will include pictures and/or videos so that you're able to see my puppy grow and learn as well as read about it!
