It’s not unusual for James Watkins to wake up at 3 a.m. and start banging on his bedroom door.
When that happens, either his father Sean gets up or his mother Amy.
“If we can, we try to get him back to sleep. If not, we ride it out for the next couple of hours until we get up,” said Sean.
James is six years old and has down syndrome, and autism.
He also has chronic hip pain due to his joints popping in and out.
He was born with two congenial heart defects, as well, and has already had two surgeries.
“Yeah, he’s tough,” Amy said of her youngest of five children.
His parents suspected he had autism when he was three, but he didn’t receive an official diagnosis until a year later at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in Vancouver.
Autism Canada defines Autism Spectrum Disorder as a complex neurobiological condition that impacts normal brain development leaving most individuals with communication problems, difficulty with typical social interactions, a restricted repertoire of activity and interests and a tendency to repeat specific patterns of behaviour.
Down syndrome is a condition where a baby is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21, changing the way the brain and body develop.
This made his autism harder to diagnose.
James is in Grade 1 at St. Patrick’s School, but is unable to interact socially with other people.
“He’s verbal, he can say words, he can label things, but he doesn’t communicate. His memory is really good, but he doesn’t have two-way conversations,” said Amy.
He is also unable to make connections, such as how a moving car or hot stove could injure him.
His parents are now hoping to raise enough money for a certified and trained service dog to help keep him safe.
“This dog would be loved and cared for as a true member of our family. It would help James sleep, help to ease his pain, help his confidence, and help him to feel a greater sense of purpose,” said the posting, written by Sean, on the compassionate crowd funding site YouCaring, to help with the cost.
Sean and Amy have contacted numerous subsidized groups that train and supply assistance service dogs, but have been told that they stopped taking applications because of the high demand.
Even if they could submit an application, James would be on a five-year waiting list.
So they are hoping to raise $25,000 to get a dog through Assistance Service Dogs B.C., a non-profit branch of Obedience Unleashed Dog Training Inc. in Mission.
The Watkins have to make an initial payment of $6,250 before the agency will look for a dog to match with James’ personality and his household environment.
James could expect to have a fully trained dog in about a year.
Sean and Amy believe a service dog could help James.
“It’s going to be calming for him, reassuring for him. The dog is also going to provide safety for him, companionship,” said Sean.
“All animals, he’s very attached to. That’s why we think it would be so positive for him to have what he calls a ‘doggy friend’,” added Amy.
Most of all, they want a service dog for James as a friend and a companion because it’s going to be hard for him to make his own personal relationships outside of the family.
So far, 42 donors have donated $3,726 since the crowd funding campaign started three days ago.
Sean and Amy become emotional when they see such support for James from both friends and complete strangers over a short period of time.
“We are so blessed,” said Amy.
• To donate go to youcaring.com.