Bend community helps young girl get her service dog

The community showed an outpouring of support for a young Bend girl Saturday.

Deanna Tchalemian said her 8-year-old daughter, KB Licitra, has a connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, or EDS, which is a chronic, painful disease with no cure.

“It affects not only her joints — they pop out, dislocate, sublux(ation) all the time, but it’s also things like vision,” Tchalemian said. “So she’s losing her vision in her left eye because your eyes are connective tissue.”

The recently diagnosed condition affects KB’s mobility, holding her back from some childhood activities.

“I can’t do so much,” KB said. ” I can, like, walk around the park. I just can’t run, jog, soccer, football.”

KB’s mother said she wants her daughter to have as much support as she can, and through research found out the benefits of service dogs.

Having a service dog will help KB be able to do more of the things her classmates are able to do.

Friends and family came together to host a car wash fundraiser Saturday to help make this goal a reality.

“It’s going to be a golden-doodle,and his name is Mickey,” said KB, who has already picked out and named her future dog.

So far, they’ve raised enough money for a trip to Las Vegas next month, where they’ll meet Mickey for the first time.

Eventually, he’ll help her lead a more normal life, helping with things like balance, anxiety, and companionship.

“It’s going to help, so I can brace up when I’m going up the stairs, or when I’m like coughing I can hold on to him, or I can just feel happy because I know someone is going to be there for me,” KB said.

If you want to help Licitra, visit this link https://www.gofundme.com/servicedogforkb