Hazel's Life Saving Companion
Donation protected
This summer was an exciting time for our family. We got to spend 10 days straight together with our Florida family. We have the time of our lives there since mommy and papa own The Copper Crust company and work ALL THE TIME in York. I would have their undivided attention 24/7, no work talk. This time together would soon become one of the most important times in my life. During our time in Florida one day I was so thirsty I couldn't stop drinking and peeing. My lips were even dry and I couldn't sleep because I would either have to pee or drink. Mom and Papa were very concerned. I'm not sure why but my mom kept talking about diabetes. She was always worried about me.
We came home August 10th and on August 11th my mom took me to the Dr. The Doctor said that I was probably dehydrated from swimming and all the sun in Florida, or that I possibly had a UTI, but did NOT think I had diabetes. She made me pee in a cup. She soon came back in the exam room where I was waiting with my mom reading a book and she said she was sorry. All I heard was that I had Type 1 diabetes, I had to go to Hershey Medical Center immediately and that they were waiting for me. At first I thought "Hershey... yum chocolate" but- My mom looked scared and we went home to get Papa where I got my favorite horse Earl Grey to acompany me. TT our Nanny took care of Vivi, and I was really scared. I cried on my way until I fell asleep.
At the hospital the nurses were so nice, they even put a squeezy arm band on Earl Grey that we kept. They brought stickers and coloring books. They pricked my finger..."ouch" they stuck my arm a bunch until tubes of blood came out "ughhhhhhh" I hate that. I was scared and it looked like mommy and papa were too. I now have to do that every three months... I still hate it!
The doctor explained what TYPE 1 DIABETES is. It is an autoimmune disease, which means my body is killing my pancreas cells that make insulin. This means a lifetime of balancing blood sugars. Oh boy there are a lot of numbers and science involved "PHEWWW." I have to measure all of my food if it is a carbohydrate and calculate the amount of insulin that I need . I test my blood sugar at least 6 times a day and take 4 shots in my belly and arms. (That is 10 needles a day) I am still scared to try my legs and butt "YUCK,they want me to do it in my butt."
I am thankful that I have Insulin to keep me alive but it can also create extreme lows without any signs or symptoms like "BAM." This scares me, and my parents. My mom wakes me up many times at night to make sure I am alive and my blood sugar is not crashing. Sometimes I think she is crashing
This brings me to AGNES
Most kids want a dog becuase they are cute and cuddly. I want one not only for that reason but my dog will save my life. When I am sleeping it will paw me or jump on me so that I wake up before my blood sugar gets too low. If I don't respond it will bark loud so that mom and papa will hear and come help me. This will help my mom sleep a little better too.
Agnes is the name of my dog. She is being especially trained for me by Ms. Becky Causey. If you know my mom you know she did tons of research and found the best expert in the business to train my DAD (diabetic alert dog), she is even the President of The Diabetic Alert Dog Alliance. Agnes will help me to be more like other kids with a normal life, as well as be a companion during crazy blood sugar highs and lows. She will help if I am at a friends house, or a party. Agnes will be trained around children becuase I have a little sister Vivian. She will also be trained around horses because I love horses.
Can you imagine being a teacher with a Type 1 kid in your class. It is hard enough paying attention to 25 normal kids, never mind worrying if I am about to pass out or not. My dog will help me at school when I am too embarrassed to tell my teacher that I need to go to the nurse or that I need a snack in the middle of science.
Agnes will be trained to smell when my blood sugar is crashing. She will go with me everywhere. It is a lot of training and hard work. It takes 18 months to train her and she is a life saving device that I will have working for me for at least 10 years. I think that she is well worth the money! I know that she will love YORK just like my family and I love YORK. I can't wait for her to be part of my family.
My mom wishes she had a dogs nose...thats funny.
Please pray for a cure, the doctors tell me that they are very close to finding one. Until then, Agnes and I are extremely thankful for your help in affording us a long life together full of health, happiness, and companionship.
We came home August 10th and on August 11th my mom took me to the Dr. The Doctor said that I was probably dehydrated from swimming and all the sun in Florida, or that I possibly had a UTI, but did NOT think I had diabetes. She made me pee in a cup. She soon came back in the exam room where I was waiting with my mom reading a book and she said she was sorry. All I heard was that I had Type 1 diabetes, I had to go to Hershey Medical Center immediately and that they were waiting for me. At first I thought "Hershey... yum chocolate" but- My mom looked scared and we went home to get Papa where I got my favorite horse Earl Grey to acompany me. TT our Nanny took care of Vivi, and I was really scared. I cried on my way until I fell asleep.
At the hospital the nurses were so nice, they even put a squeezy arm band on Earl Grey that we kept. They brought stickers and coloring books. They pricked my finger..."ouch" they stuck my arm a bunch until tubes of blood came out "ughhhhhhh" I hate that. I was scared and it looked like mommy and papa were too. I now have to do that every three months... I still hate it!
The doctor explained what TYPE 1 DIABETES is. It is an autoimmune disease, which means my body is killing my pancreas cells that make insulin. This means a lifetime of balancing blood sugars. Oh boy there are a lot of numbers and science involved "PHEWWW." I have to measure all of my food if it is a carbohydrate and calculate the amount of insulin that I need . I test my blood sugar at least 6 times a day and take 4 shots in my belly and arms. (That is 10 needles a day) I am still scared to try my legs and butt "YUCK,they want me to do it in my butt."
I am thankful that I have Insulin to keep me alive but it can also create extreme lows without any signs or symptoms like "BAM." This scares me, and my parents. My mom wakes me up many times at night to make sure I am alive and my blood sugar is not crashing. Sometimes I think she is crashing
This brings me to AGNES
Most kids want a dog becuase they are cute and cuddly. I want one not only for that reason but my dog will save my life. When I am sleeping it will paw me or jump on me so that I wake up before my blood sugar gets too low. If I don't respond it will bark loud so that mom and papa will hear and come help me. This will help my mom sleep a little better too.
Agnes is the name of my dog. She is being especially trained for me by Ms. Becky Causey. If you know my mom you know she did tons of research and found the best expert in the business to train my DAD (diabetic alert dog), she is even the President of The Diabetic Alert Dog Alliance. Agnes will help me to be more like other kids with a normal life, as well as be a companion during crazy blood sugar highs and lows. She will help if I am at a friends house, or a party. Agnes will be trained around children becuase I have a little sister Vivian. She will also be trained around horses because I love horses.
Can you imagine being a teacher with a Type 1 kid in your class. It is hard enough paying attention to 25 normal kids, never mind worrying if I am about to pass out or not. My dog will help me at school when I am too embarrassed to tell my teacher that I need to go to the nurse or that I need a snack in the middle of science.
Agnes will be trained to smell when my blood sugar is crashing. She will go with me everywhere. It is a lot of training and hard work. It takes 18 months to train her and she is a life saving device that I will have working for me for at least 10 years. I think that she is well worth the money! I know that she will love YORK just like my family and I love YORK. I can't wait for her to be part of my family.
My mom wishes she had a dogs nose...thats funny.
Please pray for a cure, the doctors tell me that they are very close to finding one. Until then, Agnes and I are extremely thankful for your help in affording us a long life together full of health, happiness, and companionship.
Organizer
Nicole Niekrewicz Austin
Organizer
York, PA
