Vanessa Mabie, 16, was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) about three years ago. Her condition causes focal aware seizures — in which a person remains conscious — tremors and more.

Mabie’s symptoms began in infancy but worsened after a period of illness in recent years. That’s when Annie, Mabie’s two-year-old golden retriever, came into the picture.

“We just got her for a family dog, but she started alerting of seizures long before we were doing trainings,” Mabie previously said.

Annie began working with Dave Johnson, lead trainer and owner of Canine Connection Training in Escanaba, even before the family had secured funding for her training. Johnson has donated significant time and resources towards Annie’s journey to become a service dog.

Vanessa Mabie's service dog-in-training, Annie, detected a seizure during Easter. Annie began licking Vanessa’s hands, then escalated to nipping and pulling at her when she didn’t lay down immediately. Annie stayed with Vanessa until she recovered. (Courtesy photo)

Lisa Mabie, Vanessa’s mother, said Johnson’s training will cost about $18,000. However, she believes Johnson’s contributions go far beyond that.

“He wants to help Vanessa so much that I don’t think he’s counting Vanessa’s money,” Lisa said. “Whatever we get is obviously going to Dave, because he is doing the work.”

Through Johnson’s training, Annie’s skills have been continuously refined. As of May, Annie is about halfway through the certification process.

Johnson often trains Annie while Vanessa attends occupational and cognitive physical therapy, which helps train the dog to focus on Vanessa in social environments.

Lisa said the therapy Vanessa receives helps her “train her brain” to manage her symptoms.

Dave Johnson often trains Annie while Vanessa attends occupational and cognitive physical therapy, which helps train the dog to focus on Vanessa in social environments. (Courtesy photo)

“It’s kind of like a four-wheeler trail in the woods,” Lisa added. “If you go over it every day, you know how it indents the ground? That’s what she’s doing with her cognitive physical therapy and occupational therapy — she’s training her brain so she doesn’t have to go down that road of passing out or feeling like her legs are numb.”

While Lisa was only able to work part-time in January, she now works full-time with confidence that Vanessa will be safe at home with Annie. Vanessa completes her schooling online while at home, as her condition makes it difficult to tolerate fluorescent lights in school settings.

“I think Vanessa just feels so weird when Annie’s not around her,” Lisa said about her daughter. “You can see how different she is, because she’s just got so much more confidence even walking out in a field or whatever. You can just see her being so confident because she knows Annie is going to tell her if she has to [lay] down.”

During Easter, the family saw that firsthand. Annie began licking Vanessa’s hands, then escalated to nipping and pulling at her when she didn’t lay down immediately.

“She’ll lick Vanessa, and if we don’t lay her down right away, Annie will get her down,” said Lisa. “She’ll keep grabbing her. At Easter, we still didn’t listen, and Annie pounced on Vanessa, wanting her to get down to the ground.”

Dave Johnson, lead trainer and owner of Canine Connection Training in Escanaba (right), trains Vanessa Mabie's dog, Annie, so she can get certified as a service dog. Mabie was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) about three years ago. (Courtesy photo)

By lying down early, Vanessa avoids falling and reduces the severity of symptoms like fatigue, numbness and tremors.

Vanessa had a seizure shortly after — one Annie had detected before any visible symptoms appeared. Annie can sense subtle changes in Vanessa, like her increasing heart rate or behavior, and detect a seizure 20 to 30 minutes before it occurs. Lisa said the family now watches for Annie’s signs, as well.

Lisa also said sensory techniques, such as cold stimulation, can assist Vanessa during episodes, reducing the need for hospital visits.

She added, “It’s a neurological thing, so if Vanessa is laying down and you give her an ice pack or if you give her a Listerine strip or something to get her senses back to the front of her brain, that’s why you can stop [worsened symptoms.] That’s why we haven’t had to go to the hospital since we’ve been training Annie.”

Since the Daily Press last reported on Vanessa and Annie in January, the community has rallied around the pair with support, funding and even an award.

Several area Lions Clubs have donated money to Annie’s training, as well as Elmer’s County Market. The Escanaba Elks also donated money from the Elks Major Project.

Additionally, Lisa said Annie was awarded the Purple Paw Award from UPAWS in Marquette after being nominated by a reader in Marquette who read the Daily Press’ first story on the Mabies.

The Escanaba Veterinary Clinic has offered to provide Annie’s vaccinations at no cost, as well.

Lisa said the impact of Vanessa having a service dog-to-be by her side has been life-changing.

“Vanessa’s actually talking about doing stuff now, like she’s talking about going to Driver’s Ed,” Lisa said. “Before, she was so afraid, because she just didn’t want to pass out in front of people, she didn’t want to be in the wheelchair. Her whole demeanor has changed with [Annie]. She feels very positive, she’s laughing a lot more. It was just a roller coaster before.”

Those wishing to donate funds towards Annie’s training can contact Lisa Mabie at lisarmabie@gmail.com, call Lisa at 906-399-0744 or donate funds to Lisa’s Venmo @Lisa-Mabie-4.

Funds may also be deposited into the Upper Peninsula State Bank account for Mabie’s Dog Fundraiser, which has a routing number of 091101138 and checking number 51124787. Donors may alternatively mail checks to Upper Peninsula State Bank, 430 N. Lincoln Rd. in Escanaba, in the name of Lisa and Jacob Mabie.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.