Monday, July 25, 2011

So far so good.

Seems like these days all I have been focusing on is fundraising for our service dog. We started this journey during the last week on June. As of July 15, 2011 we have raised $2,190.25! Far from our $13,000 dollar goal, but its a wonderful start, and I couldn't be happier.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

We're almost famous!

Our family did an interview with our town's news channel.

Take a look!


Thanks again for everyone's support!

Monday, July 18, 2011

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!!!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Welcome to our Journey!

This blog is the story of a little boy who was born with two very rare chromosome disorders: 9p minus (Alfi’s Syndrome) and 8q duplication. Both these disorders combined has left Eddie mentally and physically disabled. Unable to walk or talk Eddie faces many struggles. One of his major struggles is having seizure disorder and congenital heart defects.

We are in the process of fundraising to get Eddie a Multi-Purpose/Seizure Alert Service Dog. To learn more about Eddie and our family, please click here. 

Feel free to look through the site (see top menu bar) to learn about Eddie, what an Multi-Purpose/Seizure Alert Service Dog is, and how you can donate to our cause.

Thank you for your support, and for following along on our journey to get Eddie his Service Dog!


(above: Vinnie, a 4 Paws for Ability Service Dog in Training)


-The Davies Family