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Seizure assist dog proves perfect match for Goose Creek resident by Cindy Abole Public Relations When nine-year-old Abigayle Williams arrived at MUSC Children’s Hospital last Monday to begin a weeklong stay, she carried with her personal items and necessities that would help make her visit comfortable. She also brought Katya, her three-year-old seizure assist dog.   Katya gives her best friend, Abigayle, a kiss during their stay at MUSC. Katya, a seizure assist dog, was presented to Abigayle to protect her during seizure episodes. However, the training involved in preparing a special dog like Katya can be costly. The Williams' family is seeking funding assistance to officially acquire her. Donations can be made to the Abigayle Williams Fund at any First Federal bank. For almost two years, Abigayle suffered from seizures which was the result of a rare neurological disease, Neuro-bibromatosis Type 1, diagnosed from birth. Although medications help, Abigayle’s seizures continued to chip away at her confidence and independence and affect her quality of life.   Less than a month ago, Abigayle was introduced to a three-year-old German shepherd named Katya. Her parents, Cheryl and Donald Williams of Goose Creek, first learned about the benefits of seizure assist dogs through the Lowcountry Epilepsy Foundation. Reared and trained by professional dog trainers Murray and Eve Craft of Crafty K9 in Columbia, Katya was trained to become a seizure assist service dog because of her confidence and intelligence, according to Eve.   Thankfully, both girl and dog clicked right away.   “From the very beginning we knew Abigayle needed Katya,” said Cheryl. “What we didn’t know right away was just how much Katya needed Abigayle. It was a perfect match.”   In their early days when Abigayle had a seizure, Katya would lay her body across Abigayle’s legs and lick her hands and face until the episode subsided. Thanks to continual training arranged by the Crafts, Katya is capable of positioning herself to prevent Abigayle from falling and injuring herself during a seizure episode. At times, she is able to alert others about an impending seizure even minutes before it begins— a mystery trainers, animal experts and researchers have yet to understand.   Abigayle was admitted by her pediatric neurologist, Bernard Maria, M.D., and MUSC Pediatric Epilepsy Program director Robert Turner, M.D., in attempt to record and study her seizures on video EEG.   According to Turner, seizures in both children and adults occur in about 1 percent of the world’s population. Sometimes, seizures are the result of a head injury, brain tumor or other acquired factors, but most commonly, epilepsy results from genetic influences not yet fully understood. Because of the unpredictability, seizures can present at any age and at any time.   Last week, both girl and dog could be found around the vicinity of 7A. They are inseparable and the best of friends. Even the house and nursing staff, as well as the generally curious, tried to steal a glimpse of the girl and her remarkable dog. Aside from the presence of visiting therapy dogs, Katya is the first medical service dog accommodated to stay overnight with a special needs patient at the Children’s Hospital. Katya’s presence meets the state and federal guidelines regarding the rights of the physically disabled and American with Disabilities Act which grants individuals to be accompanied and accommodated in public places by a medical service dog.   “One doesn’t need to be a dog or animal lover to see the love and natural bond between this child and this dog,” said Joanne Kohler, R.N., who was Abigayle’s nurse during most of her stay. “I am in awe of what this dog is capable of doing. Watching them together is really quite touching.”   “We were ready and waiting when we received a call from the Williams family seeking information about obtaining a seizure assist dog for Abigayle,” Eve said, who only years earlier experienced similar challenges caring for their son, Josiah, who also suffered from a seizure disorder. “Most service dog organizations that provide seizure assist dogs have a waiting list of at least two to three years. I can’t imagine anyone needing a dog for their child and having to wait years to get help. Thankfully, we are learning so much from this experience and we hope to be able to help other families.”   Friday, March 3, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publication at 849-1778, ext. 201.