HUMBOLDT PARK — A Humboldt Park woman is trying to raise money for a service dog that she said would change her life.
Sarena Brooks moved to Chicago two years ago primarily because of the city's public transportation system.
The 30-year-old suffers from seizures and a number of other conditions that limit her mobility.
"I have people with me pretty much everywhere I go," Brooks said. "My roommates, closer friends that I've made and usually I'm rarely out alone."
A return to independence is just a state away in Indiana in the form of Tommy, a young Golden Retriever who has begun training to become a service and seizure response dog.
Brooks has been unable to work since moving to Chicago from Florida due to her disabilities from seizures, migraines, Tourette syndrome and schizoaffective disorder depressive type.
She hopes that if she raises enough money for the service dog she will someday be able to return to the workforce.
“It would provide me with a level of independence that I haven’t had for years," Brooks said. "I’ll be able to go outside alone, I’ll be able to do my shopping. Eventually, depending on how I bond with the dog, I may be able to reenter the workforce which is the most exciting part for me.”
Brooks turned to Everyblock in fall 2014 seeking help from strangers about how to start a fundraiser for the $10,000 to cover the cost of training Tommy.
Some neighbors suggested crowdfunding, and since launching her page about seven months ago, Brooks has raised $3,000 of her $10,000 goal. Fifty-one people have chipped in.
Brooks reached her first mini-goal of $2,000 to cover Tommy's deposit, but needs the remaining $8,000 by December to cover the remaining coast of training him.
"I save every little penny that I can, but there's only so much I can do," she said.
A service dog with seizure training would allow Brooks to walk without a cane and would help her when she has a seizure by laying next to her to prevent injury, clear her mouth from anything that could cause choking and activate an alarm system to call 911.
Tommy would also be trained to bring emergency medication, water and a cellphone to Brooks, help sit her up and more.
An example of a seizure dog's abilities can be found below.
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