CHILLICOTHE - For the first time since 2012, Benita Yocum is able to breathe easier and it's all because of a golden Labrador named Loretta.

Benita's son Andrew Yocum is your typical 10 year old. He participates in school, likes video games, plays with his brothers and enjoys spending time with his dog. But unlike most kids his age, Andrew has asthma, sensory processing disorder, autistic tendencies and epilepsy. And while you can find Loretta playing fetch or doing tricks, her primary job is to alert Benita when Andrew is going to have a seizure.

When Andrew was an infant, he was developing at a normal rate but around three, he had his first seizure. Within six months, he was considered failure to thrive. At one point, Andrew spent 10 days hooked up to a long-term electroencephalogram (EEG) machine that monitored the electrical activity in his brain.

With the right combination of medication and therapy, Andrew has been able to return to everyday life. Every morning at 8:30 Benita makes sure her children are ready for school and gives Andrew his medication. Then the two of them have exercise or therapy, online school, rest time, more therapy and work to develop strategies to cope with autistic meltdowns. And now, the family adds dog training into their schedule.

Finding the right fit

After Andrew was first diagnosed with epilepsy and developmental disabilities, Benita knew that she would need extra assistance. She started to look into organizations that specialize in service dogs and found 4 Paws for Ability — a nonprofit group based in Xenia.

Andrew was fascinated with the dogs when they first arrived at 4 Paws. Benita realized by the time they finished the process, he would be old enough to help care for the service dog and learn more responsibility. Despite Andrew's fear of shots, he received two allergy shots a week for two years to combat his dog allergies.

Benita applied for the program in 2014 and after a phone interview, began fundraising to cover the $17,000 cost of the service dog. They finished in late 2016 and were added to a waiting list. Last year, she found out they would be the first class of 2019 and that Andrew would finally be able to meet his dog.

On Jan. 14, the Yocums had their first day of training and met Loretta. After 12 days of lessons, they brought her back home to Chillicothe.

Loretta began learning the basics of obedience and how to be a service dog when she was just a puppy and she was matched to Andrew based on their personalities.

Beinta had to submit videos to 4 Paws for Ability that showed what life was like for their family. It helped show the organization Andrew's likes, dislikes, activity levels and their family dynamics. She also submitted shirts with Andrew's seizure scent and normal scent so that Loretta could begin learning the difference.

Now, Loretta adapts to Andrew's needs. When he's on the couch playing on the iPad, she's up there with him and when he's ready to play, she's excited about fetch.

"I couldn't imagine a better placement," Benita said.

Serving Andrew

Unlike most service dogs, the animals at 4 Paws for Ability are trained to pre-alert seizures. Often, other service animals only respond while a seizure is taking place.

Loretta performed her first pre-alert on the second day of training. During an exercise, she began licking Andrew's ears, face and mouth insistently. The act was how Loretta responded to the seizure threshold scent that takes place when the chemicals in the brain change prior to a seizure.

Sixteen hours later, Andrew seized.

Each time Loretta pre-alerts, Andrew has consistently experienced a seizure 16 hours later. Now, Benita is able to set an alarm on her phone so that she's available to Andrew when he seizes.

“There’s no walking in during the middle of it and wondering ‘Is he okay?’ ‘Is he still breathing?’" she said. "At least now, I can be in there."

Andrew has a variety of seizures including staring, drops and grand mal that are caused by misfirings in the brain due to light sensitivity, sickness, asthma and other triggers. Loretta focuses on pre-alerts for tonic-clonic seizures which primarily occur at night. On average, Andrew has four overnight seizures a week.

But because Andrew has a regressive form of epilepsy lately, he's been declining.

"He gets very frustrated with himself," Benita said. "There are things he has been able to do that he can't do anymore."

Andrew's developmental disability leads to a disconnect with the anger he feels and causes self-injurious and disruptive behavior. When he's upset, Andrew will often dig into or claw at his face.

Although Loretta's purpose is for pre-alert and alerts for seizures, she's also been trained in behavior disruption. When Andrew starts to go toward his face, Loretta will do a nuzzle and get between Andrew and his hands to prevent him from reaching his face.

Connecting with others

Loretta also helps bridge the social gap that many people with special needs experience with the neurotypical population. At times, when the family is walking in a store, Andrew will ask people if they want to pet his dog.

"It's great because he's actually talking to people and initiating the conversation," Benita said.

While the most accepted rule is to never touch a service dog while they're working, Benita said that she's impressed by the level of education people have regarding service dogs and the best thing to do is ask.

Benita hopes that Loretta will encourage people to become more educated on developmental disabilities. Often, people stare at Andrew because he wears a helmet in public, stims and is in a wheelchair for long distance trips. It isn't uncommon for parents to pull their children away or tell them to stop being impolite.

"Growing up for me, you didn't approach that topic [of people with developmental disabilities] you just pretend it's not there," Benita said. "But it shouldn't be like that if you have a question just ask."

Benita uses her position as a scout leader as an opportunity to educate young people on developmental disabilities, answer questions and discuss ways to modify activities so everyone can participate. She recently gave a presentation at the Pioneer Center to educate students and staff on service dogs, too.

Discovering the missing piece

And Benita's experience of meeting other families at the 4 Paws for Ability training shed light on a missing piece in her life.

"It was like walking into an oasis," she said. "Everyone else there gets it."

Throughout the 12 day training, the 15 families bonded over their children with developmental disabilities and how the average person doesn't understand what their lives are like. Benita says that at 4 Paws there's magic that connects everyone and brings the kids out of their shells. The experience also showed her the need for support systems for not only the children but their primary caregivers.

"I didn't realize I didn't have the support I needed until I was there," Benita said.

Now, she's considering starting a local support group to provide a space for families of people with developmental disabilities to connect, reflect and assist each other.

Andrew has dreams of becoming an archaeologist or a dog trainer but because of his form of epilepsy, it's likely he won't be able to do that. Benita said he might not even make it to middle school.

But she's still hopeful that Loretta will allow Andrew to hold onto his independence for a little bit longer. The pup gives Beinta peace of mind so she isn't constantly checking on Andrew if they aren't in the same room and knows that she'll have ample warning before a major seizure.

"I'm finally able to take a deep breath," she said. "He's good right now and we're happy, that's all we can ask for."