Help Us Get a Diabetic Alert Dog for Baby Bain

Giving our 1-year-old son a life-saving companion

Hi, my name is Marlee, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my sweet baby boy, Bain (who most of you love on TikTok).

At just 12 months old, Bain was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on August 16, 2024, after being rushed to the hospital in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) with a blood sugar of 695. Our world changed in an instant — and life hasn’t been the same since.

Managing Type 1 Diabetes in a toddler is a constant, 24/7 job. Bain wears a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), which helps track his blood sugar, but even this amazing technology has its limits. CGMs often lag behind real-time changes by 10–15 minutes, which can be critical — especially for a baby who can’t yet speak or tell us when something feels wrong.

That’s why we are raising funds for a Diabetic Alert Dog (DAD) — a specially trained service animal who can detect dangerous blood sugar changes 15–30 minutes before a CGM like Dexcom sends an alert. These dogs use their incredible sense of smell to notice shifts in blood sugar and alert us before Bain’s levels reach dangerous highs or lows.

For a child so young, who can’t communicate symptoms, a Diabetic Alert Dog isn’t just helpful — it’s life-saving. A dog would be an essential medical tool to help keep Bain in a safer, tighter blood sugar range.

But more than that, this dog would be a best friend — someone who will love Bain unconditionally, understand his needs, and grow up by his side. Having diabetes from such a young age means Bain has already faced more than most adults do in a lifetime. Through hospital visits, countless needle sticks, highs, lows, and everything in between, he has handled it all with resilience and strength far beyond his years.

This dog will be there not only for the life-threatening moments but also for the quiet, tough ones — the days when Bain feels different, or tired, or just needs comfort from someone who “gets” him. It’s not just about medical support. It’s about emotional healing, companionship, and giving our little boy a best friend who will be with him every step of the way.

The cost of a fully trained Diabetic Alert Dog can range from $20,000–$30,000, and unfortunately, these costs are not covered by insurance. Training takes up to two years and is tailored to Bain’s unique scent profile and needs. It will be a process of detailed training, matching to a specific dog that can work for a very young diabetic, and fundraising all the money we need to make this happen. It will not happen over night, or in a week...but we are hopeful that this Go-Fund-Me can help raise awareness for our attempt to gain a DAD for Bain.

Every donation — no matter the size — brings us one step closer to giving Bain the safety, support, and companionship he so deeply deserves. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping us make a difference in our son’s life.

With love and gratitude,

Marlee & Bain