Diabetic Alert Dog/Service Dog
Donation protected
Hello,
My name is Mallory Sunderland, I am a current senior at the Manheim Central High School and I would like to share my story with you.
Have you ever set a goal for yourself to improve your personal health? That is my goal: raising money to purchase a dog to assist in managing my type one diabetes.
At the age of nine, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I will be forever thankful for my parents’ abilities to recognize my symptoms-eating excessive amounts of food while losing weight, excessive thirst and bathroom usage. On the day we went to the doctors, we were rushed to the ER to find my blood glucose between 300-500. A non-diabetic would typically be between 70-100, slightly higher after eating. To my family and me, this disease was an unknown, but the next day we were going to find out how much our lives would change.
In a person with type one diabetes, the immune system attacks the beta cells. These beta cells are responsible for insulin production, inside the pancreas. This means that to live, the individual must resort to insulin via needles or an insulin pump. The cause of type one is unknown, meaning it can affect anyone at any age. It’s not easy to control your blood sugars and anything can cause fluctuations—miscalculating foods or insulin ratios, exercise, stress, etc.
As I aged, technology advanced and in fourth grade I upgraded to an insulin pump, a huge step for my family and me because it meant that I wouldn’t need a shot every time I wanted to consume carbohydrates. I would enter the carbohydrate information into my pump, and it would deliver insulin through a cannula under my skin. The pump meant a “shot,” or a site change, every 2-3 days instead of a shot 4-7 times/day.
The summer going into my freshman year of high school, were the most unforgettable few days of my life. My cousin and I were having a typical sleepover: we watched a movie, ate a snack and then we went to bed. In the middle of the night, I began having my first seizure, despite having a normal blood sugar before bed. My cousin said I began shaking, and she was unsure of whether I was joking or if something was wrong. She told me to stop, and I looked at her. She saw the blood dripping down from my mouth from biting my tongue and she screamed. My parents rushed over, tested my blood sugar, found I was urgently low, injected me with a glucagon and directed my older brother to call 911. I was transported to the hospital where I would spend the next few days enduring tests to ensure no brain damage had occurred. Today, I have no recollection of this event. My memory lives through what my family witnessed.
While in the hospital, doctors recommended a continuous glucose monitor, CGM. The CGM monitors the patient’s numbers 24/7 and is designed to eliminate experiences similar to mine. Later, we found how life changing this piece of technology truly is; it did provide my family and I security so desperately after the seizure. But, being technology, it had flaws. It is extremely sensitive to network connections, and it is not always accurate. Then we heard of another amazing tool, a DAD, and from this point, the research began.
DAD stands for diabetic alert dog. These dogs are specially trained to alert to the blood sugars of their handlers, high or low. As amazing as these dogs are, they are expensive, averaging around $25,000, and it typically takes approximately two years to train them. The training is key for a “bomb proof” service dog, meaning they will task reliably despite the environment. To mitigate the time and financial burden, a respected colleague suggested a dog trainer named Debby Kay. Debby Kay specializes in training diabetic alert dogs. She has the experience of over 30 years and she has trained dogs to work for the federal government.
We decided to pursue getting a dog to train as a DAD from Debbie. After meeting a few dogs, we are hoping to welcome the trainee of a six-month-old black Labrador named “Judy.” Judy is specially bred for medical detection work. She is mentally sound, well-socialized and she has the appropriate drive for service dog work. Her parents are both successful service dogs and several of her siblings have already begun alerting as diabetic alert dogs. All of these aspects are key for a successful and dependable service dog.
Debbie will mentor us though the entire process of training this pup. Having the opportunity to work alongside a trainer as qualified as Debbie is an immeasurable experience and we will be blessed with the peace of mind knowing that this dog will have my back when I leave for college, in conjunction with our technology.
Having Judy will provide insurance for my family and me; knowing that I will never have to be rushed to the hospital, due to having a low in the middle of the night and not waking up. It is only with your generous contributions that I will have the independence I need for college and live a successful life. She is so important because she will impact my life in such a valuable way, enabling me to pursue my dreams—athletically, academically and collegially.
Now after reading my story, I hope that you have a clear understanding of my situation. Attaining a dog of this caliber and working with Debbie costs $4,000. It is our hope that with your generous donation and fundraising I can bring this blessing into my life. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read this letter, and I hope that you consider donating.
Sincerely,
Mallory Sunderland
Thank you again for your support.
I will be sure to publicly thank you for your contributions via social media.
Check out our Instagram: maggie_dadit
My name is Mallory Sunderland, I am a current senior at the Manheim Central High School and I would like to share my story with you.
Have you ever set a goal for yourself to improve your personal health? That is my goal: raising money to purchase a dog to assist in managing my type one diabetes.
At the age of nine, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I will be forever thankful for my parents’ abilities to recognize my symptoms-eating excessive amounts of food while losing weight, excessive thirst and bathroom usage. On the day we went to the doctors, we were rushed to the ER to find my blood glucose between 300-500. A non-diabetic would typically be between 70-100, slightly higher after eating. To my family and me, this disease was an unknown, but the next day we were going to find out how much our lives would change.
In a person with type one diabetes, the immune system attacks the beta cells. These beta cells are responsible for insulin production, inside the pancreas. This means that to live, the individual must resort to insulin via needles or an insulin pump. The cause of type one is unknown, meaning it can affect anyone at any age. It’s not easy to control your blood sugars and anything can cause fluctuations—miscalculating foods or insulin ratios, exercise, stress, etc.
As I aged, technology advanced and in fourth grade I upgraded to an insulin pump, a huge step for my family and me because it meant that I wouldn’t need a shot every time I wanted to consume carbohydrates. I would enter the carbohydrate information into my pump, and it would deliver insulin through a cannula under my skin. The pump meant a “shot,” or a site change, every 2-3 days instead of a shot 4-7 times/day.
The summer going into my freshman year of high school, were the most unforgettable few days of my life. My cousin and I were having a typical sleepover: we watched a movie, ate a snack and then we went to bed. In the middle of the night, I began having my first seizure, despite having a normal blood sugar before bed. My cousin said I began shaking, and she was unsure of whether I was joking or if something was wrong. She told me to stop, and I looked at her. She saw the blood dripping down from my mouth from biting my tongue and she screamed. My parents rushed over, tested my blood sugar, found I was urgently low, injected me with a glucagon and directed my older brother to call 911. I was transported to the hospital where I would spend the next few days enduring tests to ensure no brain damage had occurred. Today, I have no recollection of this event. My memory lives through what my family witnessed.
While in the hospital, doctors recommended a continuous glucose monitor, CGM. The CGM monitors the patient’s numbers 24/7 and is designed to eliminate experiences similar to mine. Later, we found how life changing this piece of technology truly is; it did provide my family and I security so desperately after the seizure. But, being technology, it had flaws. It is extremely sensitive to network connections, and it is not always accurate. Then we heard of another amazing tool, a DAD, and from this point, the research began.
DAD stands for diabetic alert dog. These dogs are specially trained to alert to the blood sugars of their handlers, high or low. As amazing as these dogs are, they are expensive, averaging around $25,000, and it typically takes approximately two years to train them. The training is key for a “bomb proof” service dog, meaning they will task reliably despite the environment. To mitigate the time and financial burden, a respected colleague suggested a dog trainer named Debby Kay. Debby Kay specializes in training diabetic alert dogs. She has the experience of over 30 years and she has trained dogs to work for the federal government.
We decided to pursue getting a dog to train as a DAD from Debbie. After meeting a few dogs, we are hoping to welcome the trainee of a six-month-old black Labrador named “Judy.” Judy is specially bred for medical detection work. She is mentally sound, well-socialized and she has the appropriate drive for service dog work. Her parents are both successful service dogs and several of her siblings have already begun alerting as diabetic alert dogs. All of these aspects are key for a successful and dependable service dog.
Debbie will mentor us though the entire process of training this pup. Having the opportunity to work alongside a trainer as qualified as Debbie is an immeasurable experience and we will be blessed with the peace of mind knowing that this dog will have my back when I leave for college, in conjunction with our technology.
Having Judy will provide insurance for my family and me; knowing that I will never have to be rushed to the hospital, due to having a low in the middle of the night and not waking up. It is only with your generous contributions that I will have the independence I need for college and live a successful life. She is so important because she will impact my life in such a valuable way, enabling me to pursue my dreams—athletically, academically and collegially.
Now after reading my story, I hope that you have a clear understanding of my situation. Attaining a dog of this caliber and working with Debbie costs $4,000. It is our hope that with your generous donation and fundraising I can bring this blessing into my life. I appreciate you taking time out of your day to read this letter, and I hope that you consider donating.
Sincerely,
Mallory Sunderland
Thank you again for your support.
I will be sure to publicly thank you for your contributions via social media.
Check out our Instagram: maggie_dadit
Organizer
Mallory Sunderland
Organizer
Manheim, PA
