
Fundraising for Diabetic Alert Dog
Donation protected
A lot of kids want a dog to have as a friend, a member of the family, a trusted companion. But I want a dog because it just might save my life.
My name is Miles and I am 11 years old, almost 12, I have three older brothers a great mom and an awesome dad. Up until 2011, I had a pretty normal life. But then everything changed. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. That is the kind of diabetes that used to be called Juvenile Diabetes. There is no cure, and only treatment. The treatment is injections of insulin many times a day.
How or why I have Type 1 diabetes is not really known, but I have learned that my immune system attacks the important part of the pancreas that produces insulin cells and destroys them. Without insulin, glucose can’t be used as energy and it builds up in my blood, causing high blood glucose.
Maybe that doesn’t sound so bad right? What’s a little sugar? Lots of kids have sugar. Well, my pancreas just doesn’t work like everyone else’s and high blood sugars can cause damage to my organs, my blood vessels, my eyes, my nerves and can even result in coma or death. Spikes in sugar or quick drops in sugar is very dangerous and it is up to me and my family to regulate my body. We’ve learned a lot, but it is hard.
So Diabetes is a super scary, very serious, terrible and incurable disease.
In 2011, when I was first rushed to Levine’s Children Hospital, I was so scared and I did cry and scream when they pricked my finger. I didn’t know it then, that I would have to prick my finger many times a day, for the rest of my life. And that wasn’t even the worst part! Because my pancreas doesn’t work correctly, I have to inject myself insulin before every meal and at bedtime. That’s like four or five times a day. I have an insulin pump now. It’s a pump that is attached to my body and pumps insulin in, but it still hurts. I have gotten used to the needles now, but getting used to them doesn’t mean my disease is under control.
So what will a diabetic dog do? Well, they are these specially trained dogs that detect fast rising highs or quick dropping lows in my blood sugar. They can do this by scent. It is really cool how the dogs just know to tell me when my sugar is dangerously high or low. Having my very own diabetic dog will help me control my disease and keep me safe.
My mom has done a ton of research about the diabetic dogs and found a group called Heads Up Hounds. They are awesome and train the alert dogs in the home, around other kids, and furry friends. That’s good because we have a lot of pets, and a busy house.
Heads Up Hounds have a dog for me, a dog that we would welcome into our home as a friend, as a pet, as a member of our family and as someone who could save my life.
The only problem is, that qualifying for a diabetic alert dog and then being placed with one is really expensive. We have to cover the cost of training the dog.
Since we’ve learned about the dog that could really help me, my parents, friends and family have started donating and fund raising. Mostly my mom. She is an amazing cook and has sold her special secret recipe burritos to raise money. We are so close! We are almost there we only need $4,500 more!
I would really love it if you would consider donating to our new family member, one that just might save my life. Even if you can just send us a couple of dollars, every little bit helps.
Thanks so much! I really hope that I will meet my special friend soon
My name is Miles and I am 11 years old, almost 12, I have three older brothers a great mom and an awesome dad. Up until 2011, I had a pretty normal life. But then everything changed. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. That is the kind of diabetes that used to be called Juvenile Diabetes. There is no cure, and only treatment. The treatment is injections of insulin many times a day.
How or why I have Type 1 diabetes is not really known, but I have learned that my immune system attacks the important part of the pancreas that produces insulin cells and destroys them. Without insulin, glucose can’t be used as energy and it builds up in my blood, causing high blood glucose.
Maybe that doesn’t sound so bad right? What’s a little sugar? Lots of kids have sugar. Well, my pancreas just doesn’t work like everyone else’s and high blood sugars can cause damage to my organs, my blood vessels, my eyes, my nerves and can even result in coma or death. Spikes in sugar or quick drops in sugar is very dangerous and it is up to me and my family to regulate my body. We’ve learned a lot, but it is hard.
So Diabetes is a super scary, very serious, terrible and incurable disease.
In 2011, when I was first rushed to Levine’s Children Hospital, I was so scared and I did cry and scream when they pricked my finger. I didn’t know it then, that I would have to prick my finger many times a day, for the rest of my life. And that wasn’t even the worst part! Because my pancreas doesn’t work correctly, I have to inject myself insulin before every meal and at bedtime. That’s like four or five times a day. I have an insulin pump now. It’s a pump that is attached to my body and pumps insulin in, but it still hurts. I have gotten used to the needles now, but getting used to them doesn’t mean my disease is under control.
So what will a diabetic dog do? Well, they are these specially trained dogs that detect fast rising highs or quick dropping lows in my blood sugar. They can do this by scent. It is really cool how the dogs just know to tell me when my sugar is dangerously high or low. Having my very own diabetic dog will help me control my disease and keep me safe.
My mom has done a ton of research about the diabetic dogs and found a group called Heads Up Hounds. They are awesome and train the alert dogs in the home, around other kids, and furry friends. That’s good because we have a lot of pets, and a busy house.
Heads Up Hounds have a dog for me, a dog that we would welcome into our home as a friend, as a pet, as a member of our family and as someone who could save my life.
The only problem is, that qualifying for a diabetic alert dog and then being placed with one is really expensive. We have to cover the cost of training the dog.
Since we’ve learned about the dog that could really help me, my parents, friends and family have started donating and fund raising. Mostly my mom. She is an amazing cook and has sold her special secret recipe burritos to raise money. We are so close! We are almost there we only need $4,500 more!
I would really love it if you would consider donating to our new family member, one that just might save my life. Even if you can just send us a couple of dollars, every little bit helps.
Thanks so much! I really hope that I will meet my special friend soon
Organizer
Mike Gil
Organizer
Cornelius, NC