Once Upon A Gene

How a Service Dog Helped a Child with CACNA1C-Related Disorder (Timothy Syndrome) Gain Independence – with Sue Bresnahan


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Service dogs are often associated with guiding the blind or assisting with mobility, but their impact goes far beyond traditional roles. In this episode, I’m joined by Sue Bresnahan, a pediatric nurse and rare mom, whose son has CACNA1C-related disorder (Timothy Syndrome). When they welcomed Yammy, his service dog, into their family, everything changed. Yammy didn’t just provide companionship—he unlocked a level of independence and confidence that Sue never imagined possible for her son.

Sue shares their journey, the process of getting a service dog, and why families of kids with disabilities should consider this life-changing support. If you’ve ever wondered how a service dog could help a child beyond the traditional reasons, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

✔️ Sue’s journey as a rare mom and navigating CACNA1C-related disorder (Timothy Syndrome)

✔️ The unexpected ways service dogs can support kids with disabilities

✔️ How Yammy transformed her son’s independence and confidence

✔️ The process of getting and training a service dog

✔️ What families should know before pursuing a service dog

✔️ Overcoming challenges and misconceptions about service dogs

✔️ Advice for families considering a service dog

Resources & Links:

📌 Learn more about CACNA1C-related disorder (Timothy Syndrome)

📌 Service Dog Organizations & Resources - ECAD

📌 Connect with Sue Bresnahan - Instagram

📌 Want to support Once Upon a Gene? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts & share this episode!

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Once Upon A GeneBy Effie Parks

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