Wags for Wyatt

Help Wyatt Get His Life‑Saving Diabetic Service Dog — and Open the Door for Others

First Diagnosis: Type 1 Diabetes

Wyatt will be 10 years old this July, and in August, he is scheduled to receive his service dog. For most families, turning ten means independence, friendships, and new experiences. For our family, it also means continuing to manage a disease Wyatt was diagnosed with at just three years old—Type 1 Diabetes—and doing everything we can to keep him safe.

Wyatt's dad, Robert, also lives with this disease, and thankfully, his mom, Melissa, was vigilant and provided a watchful eye for the potential signs of diabetes. When Wyatt was diagnosed, he spent four days in the hospital, and he will live with it for the rest of his life.

Second Diagnosis: High-Functioning Autism

At age six, Wyatt was also diagnosed with high‑functioning autism. Wyatt is thoughtful, bright, and deeply focused, but autism brings additional challenges. He experiences social anxiety and can hyper‑focus, which means he does not always register alarms or notifications from the medical devices we depend on to manage his diabetes.

This combination creates a serious concern because Wyatt may not notice or respond to dangerously low blood sugars in time. Despite technology, experience, and constant supervision, there is still risk.

So, why does a service dog matter?

This dog is specifically trained to:

Detect dangerous blood sugar drops and rises before devices alert

Alert Wyatt and caregivers during medical emergencies

Provide calming, grounding support during sensory overload, anxiety, and hyperfixation

Stay with Wyatt almost everywhere he goes, including school, activities, and daily life

This dog will not be a pet; he will be a working partner, a safety net, and a full member of our family.

What Your Support Makes Possible

Funds raised will go directly toward:

Specialized service dog training and placement ($7000)

Required handler training in Kansas

Travel, including hotel, car rental, gas, and food

Our goal reflects the real cost of placing and supporting a properly trained service dog.

Looking Beyond Wyatt: Helping the Next Family

If we are blessed to raise more than Wyatt’s immediate need, excess funds will not be used casually. Instead, they will become seed funding to help other children with Type 1 Diabetes and autism gain access to service dogs—families navigating the same difficulties we do.

To ensure transparency and ethical stewardship, we plan to partner with the established nonprofit Purpose Through the Pain, a trusted T1D organization in our area, to help facilitate and oversee the future use of these funds.

Your generosity helps protect Wyatt. Your support creates hope and access for families searching for the same care that a service dog can provide.

Thank you, Thank You, Thank You

Thank you for reading Wyatt’s story while supporting his safety, independence, and future. We are so grateful for your love and support in helping children like Wyatt. No child should be left to manage life‑threatening conditions alone.