A Smith County, Texas family is raising funds to obtain a seizure-alert service dog for their 3-year-old son, Tripp, after he was diagnosed with generalized epilepsy and began experiencing frequent and unpredictable seizures.
Tripp’s mother, Shauna Nicol, said her son can have multiple seizures a day, with some hospital stays documenting more than 40 episodes within 12 hours. She said the seizures began in infancy and were initially linked to illness before doctors confirmed his diagnosis earlier this year following a severe episode at home.
Nicol said Tripp’s seizures range from brief staring spells to convulsive episodes and are often triggered or worsened by fever, overheating, or illness. She said the family lives with constant uncertainty due to the frequency and severity of the episodes.
The family said a trained seizure-alert service dog could provide early warning before seizures occur, allowing time to administer medication and respond to emergencies. They said such dogs typically cost about $50,000 and require extensive training over several years, often with long waiting lists through nonprofit organizations.
Tripp’s grandmother, Kim Moore, said the family is organizing fundraisers and donation-based sales to help cover the cost. Moore founded the nonprofit Embracing Hope after a previous family loss related to epilepsy.
The family said they have launched a fundraiser to support the purchase and training of a seizure-alert service dog and to assist with Tripp’s ongoing medical needs.