Rally for Ryker: North County Mom Works to Raise Funds for Therapy Dog

Many—if not all—moms would attest that they would go to the ends of the earth and back or do whatever it takes to help their child when needed, and one North County mom has taken it to a new level.

Darcy Smith and her family have embarked on a journey to fundraise more than $16,500 to get a therapy dog for her 23-month-old son, Ryker.

Ryker suffers from two rare allergy-related diseases, Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome (FPIES) and Eosinophilic Colitis. FPIES acts as a type of “stomach bug” with profuse vomiting and diarrhea from an immune reaction to the gastrointestinal system, according to Kids with Food Allergies website. For Esinophilic Colitis, it’s an injury or inflammation of the colon caused by a defect in white blood cells, and it can cause food intolerance with items such as soy.

Smith said that more than a year ago, while Ryker was being babysat, he began vomiting and it got to the point where he was motionless and dry heaving. He spent four days in the hospital, and after doing her own research, Smith found out it could be FPIES and was diagnosed 10 days later. She said that Ryker tested positive for allergies to more than 30 foods by skin, patch and serum.

With so many allergies and dropping weight, Ryker had a gastronomy tube placed this past November to help with his nutritional needs.

“As Ryker gets older, new challenges of his allergies arise daily,” Smith wrote in a message on Facebook. “The fear of peanut residue on shopping carts or on the playground plagues us to the point that we do not take him in public often and not without extreme worry and stress. Ryker does not even sleep in his own bed due to fear of him vomiting in his sleep, which he frequently does.”

Therefore, Smith is on a quest to get her son the help he needs with a food allergy service dog. The dog would act like a bomb-sniffing dog and be able to smell a playground, for example, for items Ryker might be allergic to or alert Smith or her husband if Ryker is in need of something during the night.

“This would help relieve a little bit of stress,” she said.

The family, which also includes Ryker’s three older siblings, have worked to raise enough money to get the dog but also attend training in Colorado for 9-10 days on handling. If the family raises more than $20,000, Smith said she plans to work on a foundation and give to another child or other children with Ryker’s condition.

Smith said that some children with FPIES grow out of it, but he’ll have Eosinophilic Colitis for the rest of his life, and there’s no prognosis currently for someone with both conditions.

“I try not to think about it,” she said.

There are several ways that area residents or others could help Ryker’s cause. A number of fundraisers have been planned throughout the area—including, a trivia night at Saint Sabina in Florissant May 31 and a rally at Gettemeier’s Bar in Florissant June 9—as well as in Jacksonville, IL where Smith grew up.

Those interested can also donate to Ryker’s website or by sending a donation to: 1050 Shackelford, PO Box 1026, Florissant, MO 63301.

(You can also stay up-to-date with the fundraiser on the Facebook page.)

As of Thursday, Smith said they had raised approximately $10,000 and hopes that more will be willing to help.

“We’re doing it all on our own,” she said.