Help Bianca Merino find the key to taming her autism
What choices do parents have when they discover their child is autistic? That the child can’t communicate well with anyone, that socially the child is in another world, and that this beautiful child has no understanding of words like “safety,” “home,” “name,” etc? And that for parents, the words “sleep” and “rest” may become strangers, while “stress” becomes their close companion?
“Autism,” says Bianca Merino’s mother, “affects every aspect of our lives. From the moment I started to see some delays in Bianca’s development, our lives changed. The worries started and have not stopped. She was diagnosed when she was three-and-a-half years old.”
Every day as nine-year-old Bianca grows, she also claims more independence. She wants to cook by herself, stay in her room alone, and watch TV alone. She is a huge fan of Hannah Montana. There are times when she refuses to interact with her four-year-old brother, who doesn’t yet understand why she pushes him away when he wants to play with her. When the family goes to the mall or the grocery store, Bianca wants to walk down other aisles by herself, but of course, she can’t. It breaks her mother’s heart.
Safety issues present major challenges. Some nights Bianca has trouble falling asleep, or wakes up in the middle of the night and wanders around the house and kitchen. Even though the Merinos have an alarm system, her parents are always afraid that they might be in a deep sleep and unable to hear her.
“I want to give her the independence that she claims and deserves,” says her mother, “but I can’t. A service dog would be wonderful for Bianca. She’ll have the companionship that she needs and more of the independence that she demands, and a higher level of safety. This is why we’re raising funds to get a specially trained autism service dog that also does search and rescue from 4 Paws for Ability. This new friend, and new member of our family, won’t give up on her and might help her make friends. Plus,” she says, “this will create a stronger bond with her little brother.”
There are times that Bianca wants to interact with other kids her age, but she doesn’t have the proper language skills to interact well, and usually other children lose interest and walk away. At such times, her facial expressions reveal the frustration and pain she feels.
Usually sweet and cooperative, Bianca can change moods unexpectedly. No one knows why. According to nonprofit 4 Paws for Ability, a well-trained autism service dog helps in this and many other areas, and 4 Paws has a high success rate training dogs and families. Convinced that the child and dog will form a close bond, her parents also believe that this new family member will reduce the stress for everyone.
“I know that they say that autism service dogs are not the cure for autism,” says Bianca’s mother, “but in my heart I feel that it may be the key for her treatment. If not, at least we will have tried, and in the process we’ll have this wonderful dog that will understand and help us all be more at peace with her autism.”
The Merinos must raise the $13,000 required to train their special dog to Bianca’s specific needs, and look to the community to open its heart to this sweet little girl whose life will change significantly once she has her service dog. All funds go directly to 4 Paws.
Learn more about 4 Paws for Ability by going to http://www.4PawsForAbility.org. All money donated in Bianca Merino’s name will go for the training of her autism service dog, and the donations are tax deductible. People and organizations can donate online at the 4 Paws Donation Page, or pay by check to:
4 Paws for Ability
253 Dayton Ave.
Xenia, Ohio 45385
If you prefer making an online donation, please reference “In honor of Bianca Merino” in the box asking for special instructions.
Thank you so much! The Merino Family
4 Paws for Ability as a source for extremely well-trained service dogs. The organization is sound and its goals exceptional. Judy Vorfeld.