Meet Joey. Joey is a sweet, joyful young man who loves dogs and music, and whose smile and laugh can brighten any room. When Joey does something, he does it with his whole heart—whether it’s singing at church, helping others, or talking about his favorite thing: 101 Dalmatians. Joey loves working with the dogs at his vocational training program and can tell you all their names!
Joey’s joy and gentle spirit are even more remarkable given everything he has overcome. He experienced significant neglect early in life. When he was just five months old, I received a call that he needed a foster home. They told me Joey didn’t cry or make eye contact, but when I went to pick him up, he looked at me, smiled—and cried the whole way home. At that time, he was far behind on developmental milestones and had a blank facial expression. With patience and love, Joey began making slow but steady progress, though he continued to face challenges.
Joey was adopted at age two and a half. By the time he was three, he had several diagnoses: autism, anxiety, intellectual disability, and a genetic microduplication. Through years of love, therapy, and hard work, Joey made incredible progress—especially in speech, managing sensory input, and connecting with others.
As he got older, new challenges emerged. Joey was diagnosed with Cherubism, which caused abnormal bone growth in his jaw and required multiple scans under sedation, along with frequent doctor’s appointments. Several years ago, Joey also began developing tremors that cause his hands to shake when he tries to do anything and make his speech halting and difficult to understand. In January 2025, the tremors began to affect his legs and balance. He became afraid to walk down stairs for fear of falling. While he’s doing better on stairs now, the tremors still impact his daily life—affecting everything from writing and buttoning clothes to making a sandwich or carrying on a conversation.
We’ve been to many doctors, undergone multiple MRIs and genetic tests, but have yet to receive a clear diagnosis or prognosis. The current theories are that the tremors may be related either to his genetic condition or to cerebellar volume loss identified on an MRI. It’s heartbreaking to look back at videos of Joey from just five years ago and see the drastic decline in his speech and fine motor abilities. No one knows whether the tremors will plateau or continue to worsen.
A service dog would be a great friend and an invaluable source of support for Joey—helping him manage anxiety, providing comforting touch and reassurance, and assisting with balance as needed. Joey loves tactile connection and would greatly benefit from having a service dog to safely meet those touch needs in a more appropriate way. When we walk together now, Joey often holds onto me for balance and security. Having a service dog would give him that same comfort and support when I’m not there—offering greater independence, safety, and peace of mind.
A service dog would not only bring Joey more stability and confidence but would also become his best friend—bringing him joy, companionship, and the support he needs to face both his current challenges and whatever lies ahead.
You can also mail a check or money order to:
W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, 112 East Center Street, Berea, OH 44017
If mailing a check - please note that your donation is "for Joey" in the memo line.