Reading Mom Hopes Ice Cream Fundraiser Can Bring Service Dog for Son

A Reading mom is hoping your love of ice cream will help her 8-year-old son get the therapeutic service dog he needs.

Andrea Scullin is a lifelong Reading resident and her son, Sean, needs your help on June 26. That day, Scullin is hosting an ice cream social fundraiser from 5-8 p.m. at Memorial Park with the help of Cub Scout Pack 735. The goal is to raise $10,000 to help Sean get a service dog.

Below is the fundraising letter Scullin sent to family and friends:

I hope this note finds you well. In bravery and hope I’m writing this because at the end, I’m going to ask for assistance. And in order to ask for help, I need people to understand the magnitude of a struggle that’s in my son’s life. It’s both deeply personal as well as something I usually don’t share.

My Sean is 8 years old. This is the time, on Facebook and in life, where we should be celebrating milestones – like making Communion, friendships and Boy Scout trips, writing stories and displaying competence in his chosen areas. Instead Sean struggles most of the time, as he has struggled for all of his life. If you know me online, you’ll see that I share a lot of Sean’s great moments because they make me proud. Prouder than maybe the average mama, or maybe even prouder then it looks like I need to be over something. The reason is – deep breath here – is because most of our moments aren’t so great. I rarely share that he has had 7 psychiatric hospitalizations in the last 3 years. I rarely tell anyone that he was removed from public elementary school because he couldn’t stay safe. I haven’t been forthcoming about when he hurts me, others, or himself. I don’t share when he bolts or gets restrained at school. I never make public the stress and the tears. I try to hide the fact that I have been out of work for 2 years due to his needs. But those privacies I’m willing to forego to ask for help for my son.

Sean has an army and they are amazing. We have support and although there are a myriad of challenges, we continue to strive to tackle each one as it comes. This week I was notified that we are eligible for another tool to add to his ever growing arsenal. Sean has been approved for a therapeutic service dog through Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities (ECAD). The therapeutic service dog would benefit Sean in numerous ways. Mainly, the dog would ground him. When Sean is anxious, angry, or frustrated; the dog will be able to provide sensory input (i.e. the dog would lay on him, he’ll be able to pat the dog and transfer some on his energy, etc). The dog will also be a critical part of his medication taking and assisting in bedtime rituals and even sleeping. ECAD has shared that children like Sean have had amazing transformations with therapeutic service dogs. I’ve seen first-hand that Sean is easier able to maintain control, as well as be consoled and comforted in the presence of these dogs. So we are resolved to provide this opportunity for him. The cost to train these dogs is $30,000. We have committed to raising $10, 000 to offset a third of the cost. I know that everyone has a gofundme request somewhere on their page, and charities and obligations nearer to them. I’m simply asking for anyone who would like to assist my family, to please consider making a contribution to Sean get his dog.

Checks can be made out to ECAD, PO Box 251, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522 (Please note Sean O’neills name on the memo line) or online and I am always available for questions.

Thank you for continuing to be in our corner.