My name is Layla Nivens. I am fourteen years old and attend a private Christian School. I love volleyball and my cat. Unfortunately, when I was ten years old, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. My dad happened to notice the signs before I reached DKA which kept me from being extremely sick, but this life change was really difficult to cope with as I went into middleschool. I wear a continuous glucose monitor that warns me when my bloodsugar is high or low. That has to be changed every 10 days, but prevents the daily finger pokes. A CGM is about 15-30 minutes delayed in it’s accuracy, where a service dog can smell it in real time to help prevent lows all together. I also wear a pump. This allows me to dose easily without needle sticks every time I eat. Pumps also have a control IQ that helps by microdosing all throughout the day when it is high, but stops dosing when the bloodsugar drops. This has helped me to regulate my bloodsugar greatly.

 I am currently raising funds to purchase a service dog. I hope to have this dog by the time I would be driving, working, or going off to college. A service dog is able to warn me before I get low or high to treat it. I have a tendency to get absorbed when I am having fun or sleeping and don't notice my alarm, which has meant that my parents haven't been able to give me the independence that I desire. A service dog would allow me to grow into a greater sense of independence as I prepare for my highschool and college years. Service dogs are not covered by insurance and it will cost $18,500 due to the amount of time and dedication it takes to train these dogs. (Total goal will be lowered each week by how much has come in of cash donations & checks.) We are using Diabetic Alert Dogs of America & have been able to raise $12,500. I do hope you will help me to reach my goal of acquiring a service dog in the next year. (It can take several months to get one once the process is started)

We started this journey in June 2025. We have received a tentative match assuming this dog succeeds in his training. We expect to bring the dog home in summer 2026. We have named him Koda, which means "friend" or "ally."