Nosbush has a severe latex allergy that makes visiting public spaces potentially dangerous. Rubber latex is found in a wide variety of items and even a small amount of the material could send Nosbush into allergic reactions.

“It usually starts with my skin itching,” Nosbush said, “a balloon could make my throat close.”

Latex balloons are the most common causes for reactions, but latex gloves and rubber bands are also potential threats.

Nosbush’s mother, Danielle Deopere, who also has a latex allergy said it is more common than a peanut allergy, but its not talked about as often. In addition, the latex allergy is almost like a toxicity. The more she is exposed to latex, the worse the reaction gets. That’s why the family has worked to reduce her exposure as much as possible, but latex can be anywhere, including some clothing.

The fundraiser to purchase a service dog for Evelyn Nosbush has reached over $16,000 in three weeks. Only $25,000 remains to cover the cost of the latex detecting animal. (Graphic provided by Danielle Deopere)

Nosbush said at school, there are students who bring in stress balls that can have latex cores. Food preparation is another concern. If a restaurant kitchen staff is using latex gloves to prepare the food, Nosbush cannot eat there.

It is not just the latex material itself, but the powder placed on latex material. Latex gloves often have a powder residue over them, the same as some balloons. That powder is capable of carrying the allergy beyond the material.

Deopere compared it to glitter. Anyone who had done arts and crafts with glitter, realizes how hard it is to get rid of glitter. Even if the latex material is gone, the residue could still be there or carried on the wind. Often Nosbush will have a reaction before she is aware latex is around. For this reason, she needs an early warning system to detect latex.

That’s where the service dog comes in.

Just as some dogs can be trained to smell bombs or drugs, they can be trained to smell different allergens including latex. However, there are few dogs that have been specifically trained for latex detection and there is a bit of a backlog.

“Training for these types of dogs in demand,” Deopere said. No dog is currently being trained to detect allergy, the family would need to put in a special request to begin training a new dog in this skill. This will take time with some additional expense. The cost for a latex detecting dog is around $42,000 and is not covered by insurance.

Though this is a relatively high cost for a dog, Nosbush and her family believe it will save money in the long run by avoiding emergency visits to the hospital and other expenses.

Currently, Nosbush needs to carry an EpiPen at all times for emergency epinephrine injections. She has needed to give herself an injection three or four times and the injections are not cheap. An animal that can detect and prevent Nosbush from having a reaction more than pay for itself.

“The dog will smell large amounts of latex in the air and alert her if there is a problem,” Deopere said.

As an example, if a store is holding a special promotion that uses balloons as decorations, the dog could detect the latex in the parking lot before Nosbush entered the building.

A service animal capable of warning her of danger would offer greater freedom. Currently, Nosbush is enrolled in high school, but for the past two years she was limited to online learning to keep her safe. She only decided to return to in-person schooling to avoid social isolation. A service dog would allow her to continue with in-person schooling as well as other daily activities that many people take for granted.

Through the GoFundMe, $16,144 has been raised so far. This is enough for a downpayment on the dog–which will likely be a Labrador breed–but it will take up to two years before the animal is ready. Nosbush will also need to attend training to work with the dog, but she is excited for the opportunity.

For more information on Evelyn Nosbush’s story or to help donate, visit her GoFundMe page at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-evelyn-get-a-lifesaving-service-dog