#4Paws4Dylan

Social media is used for many different things. It can be used for promotions, to sell things, to view things and, to support people. 4Paws for Ability helps children and veterans get service dogs to help them. They use social media to reach out to everyone and they use it to get in touch with all of their fosters and families. This past week I was able to see an incredible way that social media was used to support someone.

Our coordinator, Jacob Dingess, had gotten a message asking for some help. A boy named Dylan, who has a 4Paws puppy, was getting VNS surgery Wednesday.

 A Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) is a device used to treat seizures when seizure drugs are not effective and surgery is not possible. VNS consists of a pacemaker-like generator that is implanted in the chest wall and is programmed by the physician to stimulate the vagus nerve in the neck. The message had asked us to send pictures of our puppies with the hashtag #4Paws4Dylan and a little "good luck in surgery message" through Facebook to show our support for Dylan. Here are some of the messages sent.

There were so many photos to help support Dylan and his family. Boo and I came a little late when it came to sending a picture, but I made sure her support was shown to him.

It's amazing to see what social media can do for people and the reach that it has. It truly is a wonderful thing to see the amount of support that can be brought together through social media. I hope Dylan is doing well and loved the photos and support he has gotten through this organization.