Bring Liam's Alert Dog Home
Donation protected
In May 2015 our little Scrappy, aka Liam, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Living with T1D can be manageable, but never easy. Surprisingly, only 5% of diabetics are Type 1, which is an autoimmune disease that pretty much causes you to walk around with a non functioning pancreas. T1 doesn't take breaks, nor does it go away. Every meal or period of physical activity requires finger sticks, math, and administering insulin or giving carbs to counteract a dropping blood sugar. This disease is so baffling because the body's needs change every day and unfortunately the medicine (insulin) which Liam requires to stay alive is also very deadly. Not finishing his sandwich, incorrectly counting carbs, running around on the playground, and sleeping are all potentially deadly. Sounds extreme doesn't it? But it's our reality.
Liam was fortunate enough to get an insulin pump and CGM (continuous glucose monitor) shortly after his diagnosis, however some days his CGM can't keep up with him because he drops so quickly (we are talking going from 100 to 50 in just minutes). We work really hard to keep Liam from the harsh reality that is diabetes, and keep his life as normal as possible, but when you have to come inside, drink juice, and rest, while all of your friends are playing outside you can't help but feel different.
This is where a DAD or Diabetic Alert Dog comes in! Dogs can sense a rapidly dropping or rising blood sugar about 15-20 minutes before a CGM. Jamie, the owner of Heads Up Hounds in Nebraska (www.headsuphounds.com ), takes saving lives seriously... She believes that by training rescue dogs, potentially two lives are saved. As Liam grows older and gains independence, Ross and I can't always be there... I mean, quite frankly, I don't want to go to his sleepovers! My hope is that Liam grow independent and learn to manage his diabetes, but never feel alone with his giant beast of a disease.
We need your help!!! The first step is raising $1500, which gets Liam on the waitlist and in line to receive a dog. The remaining is due when we actually travel to Nebraska to pick up and train with Jamie and Liam's dog (usually about 10-12 months after placed on waitlist). All funds raised will go directly to Heads Up Hounds. Any funds raised over our goal will go to sales tax, our travel expenses to NE, and miscellaneous supplies needed to get his dog setteled next year.
On average, 11 years are shaved off a T1's life.... it can be more or less depending on how well they manage their disease. Even scarier... 5% of T1's will die while asleep at night; likely from hypoglycemia. Help us add another layer of safety for Liam, and minimize the complications of this awful disease.
One act of generosity... two lives saved!
Gratitude and Love!
Liam was fortunate enough to get an insulin pump and CGM (continuous glucose monitor) shortly after his diagnosis, however some days his CGM can't keep up with him because he drops so quickly (we are talking going from 100 to 50 in just minutes). We work really hard to keep Liam from the harsh reality that is diabetes, and keep his life as normal as possible, but when you have to come inside, drink juice, and rest, while all of your friends are playing outside you can't help but feel different.
This is where a DAD or Diabetic Alert Dog comes in! Dogs can sense a rapidly dropping or rising blood sugar about 15-20 minutes before a CGM. Jamie, the owner of Heads Up Hounds in Nebraska (www.headsuphounds.com ), takes saving lives seriously... She believes that by training rescue dogs, potentially two lives are saved. As Liam grows older and gains independence, Ross and I can't always be there... I mean, quite frankly, I don't want to go to his sleepovers! My hope is that Liam grow independent and learn to manage his diabetes, but never feel alone with his giant beast of a disease.
We need your help!!! The first step is raising $1500, which gets Liam on the waitlist and in line to receive a dog. The remaining is due when we actually travel to Nebraska to pick up and train with Jamie and Liam's dog (usually about 10-12 months after placed on waitlist). All funds raised will go directly to Heads Up Hounds. Any funds raised over our goal will go to sales tax, our travel expenses to NE, and miscellaneous supplies needed to get his dog setteled next year.
On average, 11 years are shaved off a T1's life.... it can be more or less depending on how well they manage their disease. Even scarier... 5% of T1's will die while asleep at night; likely from hypoglycemia. Help us add another layer of safety for Liam, and minimize the complications of this awful disease.
One act of generosity... two lives saved!
Gratitude and Love!
Organizer
Ashley Thomas
Organizer
Old Orchard Beach, ME
