Carter Martin's Family Seeks Autism Assistance Dog
Born January 20, 2004, Carter Martin was first diagnosed as delayed at two-and-a-half years in the areas of speech and social development during the summer of 2006. Then, just a few short months later, we were given another diagnosis of Sensory Integration Dysfunction. In February of 2007, Carter was diagnosed again with severe ADHD. Then in September of 2007, Carter had an MRI on his brain and we were told he has a Type I Chiari Malformation in the base of his brain.
And now, we are facing yet another diagnosis with Carter, Autism. On the surface, Carter appears to be a normal four-year-old little boy, but once you spend just a few moments with our son, you too will see just how special Carter is. He can make just about anyone laugh with his comical expressions and his hilarious antics-he's quite the entertainer and he knows it! He also is such a lover-he absolutely will steal your heart away when he asks if he can give you a hug and a kiss in his sweet, little boy voice. However...
...that Carter can quickly turn into another child all together when he has a meltdown. Unlike other, "typical," four-year-old little boys, Carter struggles desperately with certain things that cause him to act out and to have meltdowns. Because Carter has Sensory Integration Dysfunction and ADHD, changes in his routine and structure and public situations are very overwhelming for Carter: all of the new people, sounds, sights, and smells overload his little body and he cannot process them all.
When Carter is overwhelmed, he has a meltdown and his meltdowns can range from normal, four-year-old tantrums to full-on emotional breakdowns that have lasted as long as two hours, leaving Carter and us exhausted. Carter's dog will be such a miracle for him. His dog will help Carter initiate peer interactions-something that Carter has a very hard time with.
His dog will help him cope with all the sights, sounds, and smells around him while keeping him safe. I will finally be able to write a check at the check-out line without wrestling Carter to stay in the cart at the same time! This dog will also save precious amounts of time if he does wander off because he or she will be trained in tracking Carter. And, when Carter does have a meltdown, his dog will be trained to help calm him down and in some instances, stop his meltdowns.
Our 4 Paws dog will be a true God-send...a miracle for our family and especially for Carter. This dog will be Carter's guide to the crazy world in which we live and he needs your help to get his dog. Please consider making a donation in Carter's name and helping to make a miracle come true for this special little boy.