Sam's Independence--A Diabetes Alert Dog

Hello everyone. Today, I am asking for your help. That certainly seems like an easy thing to do but it hasn't been easy at all. However, as someone recently told me, it isn't about me:.it's about Samantha.

We are asking you to consider donating to assist Sam with the means to live a safer and independent life. By helping to secure the funds necessary to purchase a Diabetes Alert Dog or D.A.D. for short, her independence can be obtained.

Samantha was diagnosed with Type 1 (T1) diabetes more than 15 years ago. Today, she is a 17 year-old teen who desires a cure for this disease not just for herself but for the millions of others who are just like her.

Our whole family has learned so much about T1 over the past few years. Every day is different and each brings both successes and challenges. Whenever possible, we try to educate others about Type 1 diabetes. Samantha, and ourselves included, has learned that the general public often thinks that diabetes is a weight related issue when in fact Type 1 is caused by genetics and other unknown factors. For whatever reason, Samantha's pancreas is dead. It doesn't work, and right now there isn't anything that I or anyone else can do about it. It's not like she or the more than 3 million other Type 1 diabetics can grow a new one. The best she can do is manage her diabetes and hope and pray for a cure.

Managing Sam's diabetes has proven to be quite challenging of late. She's had extreme fluctuations in her blood sugar that's manifested into low-blood sugar seizures"”the technical term is hypoglycemia. In her case it comes on with little to no warning. Her seizures happen at different times of the day"”but it is the ones that happen while she is sleeping that are the scariest. We've had to put an infant monitor in her room and in our room because she doesn't wake up when she has a low blood sugar. There is no privacy for her and this certainly makes her dependent rather than independent.

As a college bound student she can't rely on an infant monitor and she can't really rely on a dorm mate to help her. She has to have some control and of course she craves for independence and privacy. Our solution to gain these 3 things is a Diabetes Alert Dog. These incredible animals are a diabetes management tool and are trained to alert her to fluctuations in her blood sugar. With an alert from a D.A.D. she can make corrections to avert an episode or at least limit the severity.

These seizures can be life threatening for her and I would really like the opportunity for her to live the life that we have dreamed for her and that God intends for her to have. While I can't see into the future, I do know that her future will be brighter, safer, and less dependent upon others with the help of a D.A.D. But this future comes with a 14K price tag. I prefer to think of it as an investment.

I would like to ask you to consider investing in Samantha, in her future, by helping us to secure the funds to purchase a D.A.D. I know it's a lot to ask.

Any amount you could possibly give would be greatly appreciated. It all adds up and will be dedicated solely to the purchase of Samantha's D.A.D. If you can't give"”I would ask that you pray for her fund-raising efforts but mostly I ask you to pray for her good health and a cure for diabetes.

Sam and I will be updating this site often with her progress and to let everyone get a glimpse of her D.A.D. and the training she and the dog will both be going through.

Thank you in advance for your generosity, your support, and your prayers!

Always,
Robin