8-year-old Evan experienced a stroke due to a lack of oxygen during birth, leaving him with cerebral palsy. His disability drains his energy quickly and makes certain common tasks harder to do. In addition, autism and severe anxiety create additional challenges that are debilitating.
“As he got older, Evan stopped leaving the house,” his mom, Amanda, says. “He couldn’t go to school because being in a building was too overstimulating. His world was so limited.”
Having only one or two friends was isolating for Evan, who has a fun and joyful personality with close family. Then he received the gift that changed everything: an affectionate, reliable service dog named Kalvin.
Kalvin helps Evan conserve his limited energy by retrieving his leg brace and opening doors. His deep pressure therapy helps Evan regulate his nervous system in public and each night.
“They sleep back to back so Evan gets that pressure he needs to fall asleep and stay asleep,” Amanda says. “Kalvin is a safe constant that helps Evan build self-confidence for the first time.”
Thanks to Kalvin, Evan’s world has opened up. Rather than shying away from his community, Evan is initiating conversations with his peers at a new school. He is actively engaging with his environment, presenting a judged speech at his 4-H club and joining Cub Scouts — things that were impossible before Kalvin was by his side.
“If I ever cry, Kalvin will know and he will come to me,” Evan tells people he meets now. “Kalvin will always be there for me.”
Since Kalvin joined the family, Evan has been imagining a bigger life he had previously thought impossible — from traveling to Disney World and climbing a mountain to flying across the country to see his cousins.
“He’s seeing possibilities,” Amanda says. “Kalvin is the best gift we’ve ever gotten. I’m blown away by how intuitive he is. There’s something so, so special about him.”