I spent most of my life as an athlete, from competitive alpine racing to dirt bike riding. I was an outdoorsy Oregon girl through and through. I never expected my body to betray me at the prime of my life. In 2021, I contracted COVID-19 and subsequently developed Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition in which my heart and brain fail to communicate properly, leading to a racing heart rate, extreme fatigue, fainting, painful palpitations, weakness, shortness of breath, and brain fog. Once capable of running 10 miles without stopping, I suddenly found myself barely able to climb a flight of stairs without needing to sit down.
I mourned not only what my body had become but also the future I feared was slipping away. I had recently been accepted into Georgetown Law School, set to start in Fall 2024, and I was terrified that I would fall behind in my studies, unable to keep up due to circumstances beyond my control.
While most people with POTS manage their condition with medication, mine proved to be treatment-resistant. After a year of unsuccessful treatments and losing consciousness nearly every day, I was advised to consider a service dog for mobility assistance and potential episode detection. It was then that I discovered Medical Mutts through an online forum. I immediately knew they were the perfect match—their training style, exceptional staff, and impeccable track record were exactly what I needed. Still, I could never have anticipated just how profoundly my life would change with the arrival of Chloe.
Chloe, trained in scent detection, can sense my POTS episodes up to 10 minutes before I feel any symptoms. She not only alerts me to these episodes, ensuring I am safely on the ground, but also lays on my lap to help push blood back to my head, shields me from strangers in public, and fetches the appropriate medical supplies. Where I once passed out daily, I now experience an average of just two episodes per week. Chloe’s ability to detect these episodes has also helped reduce their severity, allowing me to recover quickly and continue with my day with less pain and brain fog.
Thanks to Medical Mutts and Chloe, I am about to start law school with confidence in my ability to reach my full potential. The unwavering support of the Medical Mutts team throughout this journey has been life-changing. Organizations like theirs, with the values and services they provide, are rare and deserve to be cherished.