A service dog for Eddie's sister too!!

As most of you know Eddie's big sister Elisabeth (age 5) is a type 1 diabetic. Diagnosed at age 2, she has been wearing an insulin pump for 11 months now.

What is type 1 diabetes?

It is a chronic (lifelong) disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels.

Insulin is a hormone produced by special cells, called beta cells, in the pancreas, an organ located in the area behind your stomach. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy. In type 1 diabetes, these cells produce little or no insulin.

Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy. This leads to the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

Elisabeth gets high blood sugars which are damaging to her body and low blood sugars which could lead to coma. Having a diabetes alert dog can be a life saver for her!

I had been looking into getting a diabetes alert dog for Elisabeth but all of the places I looked into say they have an age restriction that says the child must be 12 years of age (sometime more) to get an alert dog. So I went ahead and decided to contact the director of 4 Paws for Ability to see if they can train Lil' Eddie's dog to also alert for diabetes.

I got confirmation back a couple days ago saying that it can be done!!! I will have to send in an application for Elisabeth and sign a new contact.


AMAZING!

What does this mean? In the next couple weeks, and once I get the confirmed approval from 4 Paws for Ability, I will add Elisabeth's name and story to the fundraising effort.

I just told Elisabeth the wonderful news, and she is excited about it!!



So now, MORE THAN ever I need your help. Get the word out. Let those you know that this dog will now be for both kids!!!



Thank you all for your support!!!