14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-A boy and his dog battle chronic illness

A boy and his dog battle chronic illness

Reporter: Shannon Samson
New Media Producer: Rachel Beavin

Every kid wants a pet, and for one Carmi, Illinois boy, his dog is now his medical partner.

Last July, we told you how Jason and Amy Weasel were trying to get a service dog for their son Bryant.

This month, they brought one home who is capable of doing some pretty unique things.

Lots of folks in Carmi, Illinois know who Bryant Weasel is.

That's because last year, they were asked to donate money to help him buy a seizure response dog. His parents held a benefit dinner and auction and in just three months, they raised nearly $10,000!

Thanks to everyone's generosity, Bryant will never be spotted in town without his new best friend Theo.

Bryant, 3, has Dravet's Syndrome, a rare, genetic disorder that causes seizures.

Before, his mom, Amy, couldn't let him out of her sight, but she says that's changed with the arrival of this Pappilion named Theo, "It's given him a sense of independence and it gives me a sense of relief knowing that the dog is with him and the dog will do what the dog has been trained to do."

Prison inmates first taught Theo basic commands. Then he went to a place called 4 Paws for Ability, to learn how to be a seizure response dog.

Bryant and his family went to the Xenia, Ohio facility for training.

The idea is for the two to bond so Theo will recognize when Bryant is about to have a seizure and alert his parents by barking. The theory is the dogs can sense chemical changes in the body minutes before.

Theo is already proving to be a loyal companion, providing a distraction to Bryant when he's getting stuck with a needle during monthly visits to the hospital for an experimental treatment aimed at decreasing his seizures.

Amy says the bond is amazing, "He also laid his head in his lap the infusion was running. He got to pet him and it relieved his anxiety and it was just fantastic."

Bryant isn't the only with less anxiety. Mom and dad both sleep better at night knowing Theo is on guard.

Bryant had a minor seizure last week, but Theo was outside going to the bathroom when it happened, so no one is sure how he would have responded.

Since a seizure victim is in danger of suffocating while in bed, the dogs are trained to remove pillows and blankets as soon as the episode starts. They can lay on top of the person so he or she doesn't try to get up in a confused state.

Some of them can even run and hit a button to call 911 on a specially-designed telephone. 

The Ohio facility even trains autism support dogs. They help the kids calm down when they're being combative.