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Sammie & Stitch: A Journey of Hope and Healing

Sammie is a kind and determined 25-year-old who has been navigating life with Autism, Anxiety, and Depression. She lives with her parents full-time, and for the past two years, her service dog in training, Stitch, has been her rock. Through unwavering dedication, Sammie has worked hard to train Stitch, and in return, he has given her confidence, companionship, and the ability to take on the world—one step at a time. Sammie and Stitch are an inseparable team. They never miss a training class, and they are always the first to step up for volunteer opportunities with Service Paws. Sammie has embraced every chance to be independent, riding the bus whenever she can and taking pride in her part-time job, which gave her a sense of purpose. But recently, everything changed. Her health took a sudden downturn, pulling her into a deep spiral of anxiety and depression. The weight of it all became unbearable, and she lost her job—along with her income and the independence she worked so hard for. Without that income, she could no longer afford Stitch’s training, and as a small non-profit, we simply could not lower the cost further. Then, the unimaginable happened. Sammie’s father—her biggest supporter, her best friend—was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. He has been fighting with everything he has, undergoing chemotherapy, but his health is declining rapidly. As he weakens, so does Sammie’s spirit. She has shared that she feels more alone than ever before. Amidst all this heartbreak, Stitch’s training has come to a standstill. Just when Sammie needs him the most, he needs to complete his training to fully support her. The cost is $50 a week, and she needs to get back to training immediately.