Emma Needs a Service Dog
Donation protected
Meet Emma Keown. Emma is the smart, kind and happy, 7 year old daughter of my friends, Michelle and Chris Keown. Emma loves soccer, school and attending church with her family. Chris is a baseball coach and physical education teacher. Michelle is an educator who currently manages juggling Emma, her two younger siblings, Abbie and Hannah and Michelle's brother Alex while running the middle and high school youth programs at their church.
Two years ago, Emma was diagnosed suddenly with Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with both genetic and environmental triggers. Emma's pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin, resulting in constantly erratic blood sugars. In order to keep Emma safe, Michelle and Chris monitor her blood sugars using finger pricks or an external electronic device [which is extremely unreliable] attached to Emma. They are constantly anxious about Emma's health and whether she is "high or low." Even with careful management by Michelle and Chris, Emma's sugars are erratic; she needs multiple insulin injections each day to keep her blood sugar within a normal range. Last fall, after her blood sugar dropped unexpectedly in the middle of the night, Emma was hospitalized after a seizure.
The Keown's have struggled to give Emma the freedom and independence she needs as a growing child while keeping her safe from seizures and other long term complications of Type 1 diabetes. The electronic monitor that Emma uses is unreliable due to her age and build.
As friends of Michelle and Chris, we are hoping to raise the funds for them to get a dog through 3K9 in New Bern, NC. 3K9 is an organization that helps families like Emma's aquire a therapy dog at a discounted rate. As I learned, shockingly, trained therapy dogs typically cost upwards of $20,000. A therapy dog trained for medical support would be an incredible layer of safety for Emma. A medical therapy dog comes trained to sense when Emma's sugars are too high or low. For example, It would be able to notify Emma, Michelle and Chris in the middle of the night. For children with Type 1 diabetes, nighttime is the highest risk for blood sugar issues. A therapy dog would offer a solid support for Emma and her family and give her immeasurable amounts of freedom as she grows older.
Michelle and Chris are hoping to be able to get Emma a therapy dog within the next year and a half. The money through Go Fund Me would go toward purchasing and training the therapy dog. Personally, I have known Michelle, Chris and their family since Emma and my son Matteo were infants. They are awesome, devoted, loving parents who truly give their all to parenting their girls. Please consider a donation of any amount if you are able. If you feel comfortable, please consider sharing this page.
Thank you friends near and far for your time and consideration.
Beth
Special thanks to The Life Society and my friend Dameon Williams for help with fundraising ideas and technological assistance.
thelifesociety.com
facebook.com/thelifesociety/
Two years ago, Emma was diagnosed suddenly with Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with both genetic and environmental triggers. Emma's pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin, resulting in constantly erratic blood sugars. In order to keep Emma safe, Michelle and Chris monitor her blood sugars using finger pricks or an external electronic device [which is extremely unreliable] attached to Emma. They are constantly anxious about Emma's health and whether she is "high or low." Even with careful management by Michelle and Chris, Emma's sugars are erratic; she needs multiple insulin injections each day to keep her blood sugar within a normal range. Last fall, after her blood sugar dropped unexpectedly in the middle of the night, Emma was hospitalized after a seizure.
The Keown's have struggled to give Emma the freedom and independence she needs as a growing child while keeping her safe from seizures and other long term complications of Type 1 diabetes. The electronic monitor that Emma uses is unreliable due to her age and build.
As friends of Michelle and Chris, we are hoping to raise the funds for them to get a dog through 3K9 in New Bern, NC. 3K9 is an organization that helps families like Emma's aquire a therapy dog at a discounted rate. As I learned, shockingly, trained therapy dogs typically cost upwards of $20,000. A therapy dog trained for medical support would be an incredible layer of safety for Emma. A medical therapy dog comes trained to sense when Emma's sugars are too high or low. For example, It would be able to notify Emma, Michelle and Chris in the middle of the night. For children with Type 1 diabetes, nighttime is the highest risk for blood sugar issues. A therapy dog would offer a solid support for Emma and her family and give her immeasurable amounts of freedom as she grows older.
Michelle and Chris are hoping to be able to get Emma a therapy dog within the next year and a half. The money through Go Fund Me would go toward purchasing and training the therapy dog. Personally, I have known Michelle, Chris and their family since Emma and my son Matteo were infants. They are awesome, devoted, loving parents who truly give their all to parenting their girls. Please consider a donation of any amount if you are able. If you feel comfortable, please consider sharing this page.
Thank you friends near and far for your time and consideration.
Beth
Special thanks to The Life Society and my friend Dameon Williams for help with fundraising ideas and technological assistance.
thelifesociety.com
facebook.com/thelifesociety/
Organizer and beneficiary
Beth Soto
Organizer
Raleigh, NC
Michelle Keown
Beneficiary
