CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. -- While most 5th graders are brushing their teeth before they go to school, Austin Cambria starts taking his daily cocktail of meds.
He was diagnosed with epilepsy, a serious brain disorder that causes seizures, 3 years ago.
"I don't remember during the seizure, but I do remember the aura, and what happens after the seizure," said Austin.
Austin had to have surgery, getting a vegus nerve stimulator or VNS implant.
"I had to hold my son down for surgery as he cried," said his mother Vanessa Cambria.
The past three years have been a lot for this 10-year-old boy to handle; Vanessa says the hardest part for her son was losing his independence. A caregiver had to be with him at all times.
"It was very frustrating for him. He had someone who would follow him everywhere he went," said Cambria.
But Niko, a 4-year-old German shepard and seizure alert dog, has given Austin his life back.
Now, Austin and Niko get ready for school together and head out to the bus stop.
"It's pretty nice having a dog that I bring to school. It's pretty cool," said Austin.
The two are inseparable. Niko responds to Austin's quiet commands whether there in gym class, family trips, or in the grocery store.
And most importantly, Niko is there when Austin starts to have a seizure.
Every week the family works with Niko. On the dog's collar there's a magnetic device, when Niko senses the seizure he responds by circling Austin; that way the collar will swipe the magnetic device, triggering his VNS implant to send an impulse to his brain -- ultimately suppressing the seizure.
"One time at school, I was walking to the library and all of a sudden I had a seizure and Niko got close and kept me from falling," said Austin. "It just makes me feel comfortable and safe."
Though Niko isn't a cure, Vanessa says he's given them hope.
"I've lived in constant fear, now it's just brought us peace."
"I did have a lot of seizures and everyone was always worried about me and it's just not fair to them and to me, and now Niko's here and no one has to focus so much on me and my safety," said Austin.
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