Christine is fundraising for Chronic Illness and would love your support!
Christine Lowe is raising money for Little Angels Service Dogs
Story
My Story
Hi everyone, thank you so much for taking the time to visit my page, I hope this helps you get to know me better. As kids we have dreams of who we want to be: I wanted to be about every medical professional that existed as well as the pink power ranger! I guess it was not a surprise that I got involved in martial arts, and even got my black belt in Taekwondo and Karate! Looking back, I never thought I would be where I am now, and neither did anyone else. I was always an anxious and reserved kid growing up, but was told that I had a sparkle in my eyes and an infectious energy that could light up a room. As I got older, I began to just go through the motions of life, that sparkle and energy disappearing. I was unable to finish college where I was majoring in psychology with my dream of being a clinical counselor. I began fighting an internal war where my mind betrayed me and was playing cruel tricks on me. When I was twenty-one my health had already rapidly deteriorated and I was hospitalized for the first time with many more to come. I have been diagnosed with: Anorexia Nervosa, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia (IST) and Idiopathic Hypersomnia (IH). Today I am still working with the treatment organization I started with nine years ago. They have been absolutely incredible and have saved my life on many occasions which involved multiple hospitalizations and treatment programs (7 in total), therapy sessions, medication management, and medical monitoring. Some of these illnesses can be managed more so than others, but in my case, I have not responded to multiple different treatment methods. Suffering from multiple chronic illnesses has taken away my independence, that sparkle in my eyes and that childhood innocence of being whatever you want to be.
Despite treatments, my anxiety disorders have been one of
the most difficult issues to treat, with therapy having a minimal impact and Klonopin being the only medication that is helpful. Idiopathic Hypersomnia is a rare neurological disorder that makes it difficult for me to wake up and stay awake during the day. Trust me, this is the definition of “there is too much of a good thing.” Before being treated with medication I could sleep all day (not by choice) and I thought I was doing things I never did. Medication has helped to lessen my symptoms but there is no FDA approved medication for IH and medications are used off label. With dysautonomia (POTS and IST) you feel like you are having anxiety but really, it is your body just trying to function. POTS is a condition that makes it difficult to regulate body processes we do not have to think about like: body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion and so on. IST is very similar to POTS except it directly affects the heart and is considered an arrhythmia, a form of dysautonomia. Both cause me to experience dramatic blood pressure swings within a matter of minutes and extremely high heart rates, up to 210bpm!
This really does work! Check this out: Psychiatric service dog
recipient getting her dog and telling her story!
Research shows that service animals are effective in treating depression and anxiety, as well as improving overall health.
Did You Know?
⭐️ In a given year 1 of 5 adults will experience any type of mental illness making the United States highest for mental illness
⭐️ 46% of adults experience any type of mental illness in their lifetime
⭐️ 51% of providers nationally self-report not providing adequate mental and behavioral service
⭐️ 23.7% of adults diagnosed with any mental health illness have unmet mental health care needs due to the following reasons:
⚠️ 36.6% stigmas ⚠️ 71.6% lack of information ⚠️92.5% lack of access
Click on the links below to learn about these disorders in further detail:
I am currently continuing my education and was able to graduate with my Bachelors in Psychology and minor in communications, and have recently been accepted into graduate school for a clinical mental health counseling program where I will be able to help others live life despite their conditions and struggles. This was difficult due to the many health conditions that I struggle with but with the help of my treatment team and accommodations from my school I was able to finally finish my degree. I have been approved to receive one of these incredibly special dogs from Little Angels, where the dog will accompany me to college and help me pursue my dream. In my case, the dog will be trained to perform a number of tasks that will help me be more independent and confident in everyday life. When I become anxious, experience flashbacks, or have panic attacks the dog will be trained in medical alert for PTSD and anxiety/panic attack symptoms, including sitting on my lap and providing deep pressure therapy (like a firm hug) which is a proven therapy to help with anxiety and PTSD to feel safe. The dog will also provide stability when I experience light headedness or fainting, bracing for balance when getting up from the floor, moving from furniture and walking (for POTS symptoms). Additionally, the dog will be trained in non-protective boundary control (creating a “safe” space between myself and other people) for PTSD symptoms, and vest retrieval (where medications and needed medical supplies can be kept in the dog’s vest), and of course providing unconditional love when I need a friend and support!
Little Angels: Making A Difference One Dog at a Time!
My family and I found Little Angels Service Dogs, which is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with disabilities overcome their obstacles in life, by empowering them with these incredibly special service dogs trained to support their recipients’ individual needs. They are accredited by Assistance Dogs International (leading authority in assistance dog training) and all dogs are AKC certified and OFA certified with a reputation for immaculately healthy dogs. They provide mobility, seizure alert, autism, hearing, and psychiatric assistance dogs. Their breeding program consists of yellow and black Labradors and English cream goldens who are bred for this work. They are trained in foster homes from the moment they are weaned, and the foster families do a fantastic job of getting these babies used to some very unusual circumstances at an early age. Once these dogs are mature enough, they are brought back to the training facility for specialized training to assist their forever human they will be placed with. Little Angles has been so successful in making a difference in people’s lives that they have expanded and now operate out of two locations; one in California and the other in New Hampshire where they place dogs throughout the United States each month! Check out their YouTube channel
Why I support Little Angels!
I am supporting Little Angels because it is their mission to help both adults and children who are disabled and to bring hope to those who feel hopeless. Their recipients are not seen as the disability that they have but for the person they are and the potential they possess. Little Angels is forever dedicated to their dogs and recipients being available to them even after they are matched with their forever fluff ball! The organization takes the time to get to know their recipients, what their
needs are, and taking special care in matching them with the perfect forever fluff ball. They have made such a dramatic and positive impact with so many people who have gone through their organization, that family and friends notice an immediate change in their self-confidence, independence, and spirit.
How YOU Can Make A Difference!
Each puppy takes tremendous dedication to one day become a service dog that possesses many advanced skills. Your compassion and desire to help goes directly towards their dogs for: veterinary care, food, training supplies, and training for each dog. Thank you so much for helping make a forever difference in so many lives! Little Angels is an amazing community and now YOU can help support and be a part of that community! PuppyTraining
