Help Oscar become Brit's diabetic alert dog!

A NEW HOPE FOR BRITTANY

Hello, I’m Lance. I have created this page for my wife, believing in hope that she will gain some degree of the freedom she once had through the outstanding work of a service dog (currently a puppy) named Oscar, who needs your financial support to graduate from his training program and earn his credentials as a DAD (Diabetes Alert Dog).

Brit’s Story

I witnessed my wife reduced to a fraction of her normal being. During Brit's struggle, weighing a mere 80 pounds, bedridden for most of 2022 and into 2023, I couldn't help but wonder when her body might succumb, and she would be called home. Through many trials and tribulations nothing in her health journey was correcting her issues. Yet, in September 2022, Brit was confronted with the most daunting and unfamiliar health challenge after enduring months of unknown. She was hospitalized in the ICU minutes after she received a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes—a condition that rarely presents itself in a nearly 40 year old person. This experience served as a stark reminder of the fragility of the human body and the importance of cherishing its everyday functions.In addition to managing T1D, Brit grappled with a multitude of autoimmune disorders and was plagued with neuropathy throughout her body. These conditions continue to impact her life today.

Despite the toll on her quality of life and the freedoms she once experienced living in a healthy body, her resilience and zest for life have surged remarkably. By being diligent with her health and through an uncanny ability to study and daily labor with her health journey, she has come close to Diabetes mastery. Through the grace and mercy of God, Brit has since recovered her weight and much of her strength. This journey has instilled in her a newfound appreciation for her body's ability to heal and a profound gratitude for the life she leads and the life she lost.

How can you help?

Having endured the financial strain of costly hospitalization, lab fees, unending medical devices, medications and numerous medical consultations—a financial burden likely to persist throughout her life—Brit finds herself in WANT of one more crucial addition to enhance her quality of life and aid in her ongoing battle with T1D: a DAD (diabetes alert dog). This canine companion will play a pivotal role in assisting Brit by closely monitoring her fluctuating blood glucose levels, crucial for preventing potentially life-threatening situations such as a coma and even fatality. The presence of a service animal will afford Brit a semblance of normalcy, easing the constant vigilance required to manage her glucose levels. While Brit already benefits from life-saving devices like her continuous glucose monitor, a service dog goes beyond the ability of medical devices by being able to detect dangerous blood sugar levels as much as 30 minutes before her medical device alerts, a critical time frame that greatly improves a T1D’s ability to manage the disease.

Whereas some of the cost of the essential components of her healthcare are covered by insurance; the cost, training, and care of a therapeutic dog is not covered by insurance. The overall out-of-pocket cost for training alone is estimated to exceed $6,500. The dog’s education includes essential obedience training, scent training, and alert training; all followed by the dog having to do all components of his job excellently while in public with many distractions. All of this work will ensure a successful partnership between Brit and Oscar.

A remarkable turn of events unfolded after Brit prayed for a service dog and was given a free Golden Doodle puppy from a neighbor. A serendipitous gift that perfectly aligns with the criteria for a suitable service dog! Oscar is an incredible and unexpected blessing, our family now looks ahead to the training process with renewed optimism and gratitude.

Your support through prayers and financial contributions is invaluable in aiding our family to complete God’s gift by funding the essential training expenses for her new service dog, Oscar. Our target is to secure pledges totaling $6,500. Your assistance will be pivotal in making this initiative a reality and setting Brit a bit more free from her disease. I ask you to donate, share this page, and spread awareness through various channels to support Brit and Oscar, ensuring their success in managing the extraordinary journey of coping with Type 1 Diabetes.

I know Brit and her journey may not mean the same to you as it does to me, but I am at a standstill with all of her other medical expenses and I need to fully fund this training within the timeframe that will make Oscar most successful, the sooner Oscar begins his training, the better his skills will be and the sooner Brit gains some freedom as well as a furry friend wherever she goes.

Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated!

THANK YOU!

Any amount given that exceeds what we need will be used to make Oscar’s life better along the way – he needs all sorts of items as he grows, like food, treats, beds, leashes, harnesses, and his own medical care so he can stay healthy and happy enough to serve Brit at his fullest capacity!