Lexie is a vibrant, energetic, and compassionate 9 year old girl. We have called her Ladybug since the day she was born. On November 11th 2017 our Ladybug gave us a tremendous scare. She was rushed by ambulance to the hospital, she was almost non-responsive and had very labored breathing. She was essentially unconscious for the next 24 hours. After some initial tests it was discovered that she was a type 1 diabetic and her body was in a very critical state.

After just about a week in the hospital Susan and I took her home and began a routine of checking her blood glucose levels every three hours around the clock. Recently her glucose readings have fluctuated wildly and it has been almost impossible to keep her within range. She is now labeled by her physicians as a Brittle Diabetic, which means that her diabetes is hard to control.

For cases like Lexie's it is recommended that patients receive a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump. We were all set to receive one and were denied by our insurance company. We are appealing the decision but that process can take months. There is a cheaper pump that her physician is recommending we use until the appeals process plays out. This would be a 100% out of pocket expense for us. Susie and I haven't slept through the night together since the diagnosis. One of us has been up every three hours throughout the night. Likewise Lexie has not been able to have sleep-overs or even extended playdates with friends. This has become a quality of life necessity. The cost of the equipment and the supplies for the first three months is roughly $4000. 

Thank you! Jim Bear Jacobs