My Story
Hi! My name is Alex Chamberlain and I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2013. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, in which your immune system attacks beta cells from your pancreas, so your body can no longer produce insulin. Insulin creates energy for the body out of carbohydrates and keeps blood sugar from becoming too high. This disease has taken me on a wild ride, but has never stopped me from pursuing my dreams like competing in The Dance Worlds championship for 4 years, travelling the world, helping people in surrounding communities, and attending college at the University of Cincinnati. Since I have begun college, I have developed a dangerous condition called Hypoglycemic Unawareness- this is when a person cannot feel their symptoms of a low blood sugar, creating a lethal problem. Often when people experience low blood sugar they become shaky, sweaty, hungry, etc. When a person with Type 1 Diabetes cannot feel symptoms of a low blood sugar, it can cause confusion,  loss of consciousness, seizures, and can even lead to a coma or death. My Hypoglycemic Unawareness has admitted me to Cincinnati Children's Hospital 5 times and has taken me on my first ambulance ride in the past year and a half. I often get anxious before I fall sleep because I think about the possibility that I won't wake up. Hypoglycemic Unawareness has changed the way my life looks and limits the activities I love to do. 
I Need You!
I fully believe that getting a service dog will allow me to regain my independence and assist me in getting back to the things I love doing. Diabetic Alert Dogs are dogs specifically trained to alert their handler for low blood sugar and high blood sugar, wake their handler up if they are low during the night, and alert others if their handler loses consciousness. To receive a fully trained service dog from Diabetic Alert Dogs of America, the cost is $15,000. This amount covers everything from the company receiving a dog from a breeder, training the dog in a 6-8 month intensive course to learn how and when to alert, and then flying the dog to my home where we get to become forever friends. I humbly ask you to consider donating to my cause, so I can regain my independence and feel free of my body once again. I look forward to sleeping, dancing, flipping, and living without fear!