Caught Doing Good: Local church raises funds for child's service dog
The Master’s Men from Madison Heights Free Will Baptist Church are lending a hand by smoking Boston Butts to help eleven-year-old Jack Hiller obtain a service dog.
Jack, the spirited son of Christy and Dave Hiller, lives with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS). This rare genetic condition is characterized by a spectrum of challenges, including autism, delayed or absent speech, seizures, and developmental delays. Jack is 11 years old and has autism as a result of his genetic syndrome. He also has communication challenges, developmental delays, and intellectual disabilities. The Hillers learned about how service dogs can help at the conference in Minnesota, where they also talked to other families about their experiences.
Christy and Dave have been active in the PMS community. They felt discouraged after being denied a service dog in the past, but other parents encouraged them to keep trying. They gained more insights into service dogs at a family conference in Minnesota hosted by the PMS Foundation. The 4 Paws for Ability service dog organization participated in the conference and recently placed its 2000th dog. Christy felt that they truly understood the complexities of PMS.
According to 4 Paws for Ability, service dogs can be trained to perform various tasks tailored to the individual, including behavior disruption, high and low blood sugar detection, mobility assistance, scent and behavioral seizure response, tethering, and tracking. Christy believes that Jack would benefit from each of these capabilities.
After being accepted into the program, fundraising became critical for the Hillers. They experienced some sticker shock when they learned that their portion of the costs would be $20,000.
"During the interview, I asked about the price due to different reactions we received. They explained the process in detail, which includes intensive training for the service dog followed by training with the family," said Christy. She also noted that if families do not fundraise, it will extend the wait time for a service dog. "We've endured long waits before, such as with the adoption process for Jack and his older brother, Jonah, who is 12." Christy encourages others to consider what they would do for their child in a similar situation, and the family feels that now is the perfect time to pursue a service dog. Christy works in career development for Davidson County Schools, and David manages the Lexington office for Vocational Rehabilitation, focusing on employment and independence for people with disabilities.
Once the family raises the required funds, they will still face a two-year wait for the service dog. In addition to the Boston butt fundraiser, the Hillers launched a line of T-shirts. Donors can also contribute directly to Jack's fund at 4 Paws for Ability: Home - 4 Paws for Ability
If families do not engage in fundraising, the wait for a service dog can extend up to five years.
Christy shared that the family was turned down for a service dog in the past, saying, "I figured they didn’t understand the disease or thought Jack didn’t need one. But when someone asked, ‘Does Jack run off?’ and I replied, ‘Yes, and he’s getting stronger while we are getting older,’ they said that was enough of a reason.”
Service dogs can significantly alleviate some of the challenges parents face, providing relief and companionship. Families who have experience with service dogs have described the indescribable relief they felt knowing there would be “someone else who loved and cared” for their child. “This will give Jack so much more freedom.”
The Hillers must raise $20,000 to proceed. Christy expressed disbelief at the high expense but emphasized the potential benefits for Jack after learning more about the extensive process.
“I see the reactions but we know it’s worth it. We’re also planning to launch a T-shirt soon.”
With advancements in training, the dog could also be tethered to Jack, providing him a little more freedom. If families do not engage in fundraising, the wait for a service dog can extend up to five years.
Jack's grandparents, Vicki and Rocky Everhart, are members of Madison Heights Free Will Baptist Church. The Boston Butt fundraiser costs $35, which includes the best homemade dip you will ever taste. The meat typically weighs between 8-10 pounds.
The last day to purchase tickets is Wednesday, December 18th and pick-up is scheduled for Monday, December 23rd. The exact time for pick-up will be announced soon. Those interested can contact Rocky, Christy and Dave Hiller, or Shandal and Jessica Queen via messenger with any questions related to orders.
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