We are so excited to begin the journey of getting Jeremiah a
DIABETIC ALERT DOG!
This dog will be a lifesaver to Jeremiah
and a very welcome addition to our family.
Jeremiah is our 8-year-old fun, playful, and kind little boy who has type 1 diabetes. Every year in the United States, 13,000 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Jeremiah was diagnosed at age 3. He is coming up on his 5 year anniversary and what a way to mark that anniversary!
Managing Jeremiah’s diabetes is a full-time, hard job. He can have unexpected highs because of growth spurts, sickness, stress, or pump malfunctions. Even more dangerous, he can have serious lows that he does not always feel. When he goes lows he gets very lethargic, his color changes, and he can pass out. These changes most frequently happen at night, which means we wake up every night, sometimes throughout the night, to check his sugar and make sure he is still okay. We are constantly on alert and constantly trying to balance his levels to keep him healthy.
Blood sugar fluctuations can cause organ failure, diabetic retinopathy, amputation, seizures, and even death. Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented and it never goes away. There is also nothing Jeremiah, or anyone, did to cause the disease. Living with diabetes is definitely a challenge but, thankfully, Jeremiah is doing very well. Eating paleo has made a world of difference in his diabetes management, but even still ups and down can occur as he is constantly growing and changing and his insulin pump alone can’t always keep up with those unexpected changes.
Jeremiah checks his sugar 10 times a day, by poking his hand, to keep his sugar in line. He wears an insulin pump that we have to change at least every 3 days by inserting a new catheter into his belly or back. We work very hard to keep his diabetes under control and thankfully we have found a new tool that will make this disease even more manageable. A diabetic alert dog!
We are very grateful to God for all that he has taught us, and especially Jeremiah, through this disease. Jeremiah has a strong faith in the Lord and knows that when no one else understands, God does and he can trust in Him and in His plan for his life. Jeremiah is growing more and more into a great child of God and we are honored to walk this journey with him. Please keep him in your prayers.
We are fundraising in many ways including having a benefit fundraiser with a silent auction on June 2nd and are currently selling tickets. If you have a good or service you would like to contribute we would be so thankful to have you and would be happy to advertise for you at our benefit. We are now under the umbrella of a non-profit organization. Please email me at fundraisingforjeremiah@gmail.com if you would like make a contribution.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible monetary donation you can click the “Donate” button on the sidebar of our Whole Family website. Your donation will go directly to Guardian Angel Service Dogs. Please write Jeremiah’s name in the comments on Paypal with your donation. Please check with your workplace to see if they offer a matching gift program where your donation can potentially be doubled.
We are beyond blessed to have this opportunity to serve Jeremiah and make his life the best it can be as we manage this life-long disease. Please be in prayer for us as this is a big journey, but a God-given wonderful one that we wouldn’t trade for the world. Thank you all so much for your support!
We are blessed. Very, very blessed.
Hi, last night during bible study, a friend shared about a coworker who had a young daughter recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and told us about what they were going through (the middle of night sugar checks etc.). Then I was browsing facebook yesterday and saw this post. I couldn’t believe I was reading same story he just shared! Totally thinking the coincidence must be a God thing, I passed along your blog to him to pass to her. I hope it can offer her encouragement and a sense that she is not alone. Also, the therapy alert dog ….amazing! I had no idea such existed. I will be praying that you get the money you need. I had just started following your blog this month when I did my first Whole30 but had not actually read your story until last night. God Bless you and your family!
So glad you found us Tina. So sorry to hear about this little girl, it is heart-breaking. If they’re on Facebook I can hook them up with a big community of other parents of diabetics. Thank you for your support and prayers, it’s going to be a trying road to get our ago, but it’s always trying so we are up for the challenge. Definitely a “God thing” that you found us. Very nice to meet you!
It wouldn’t let me email you, but I’d like to donate some items if that would be of help! What a brave and sweet boy he is, and that is amazing that they can train dogs to alert like that. I’d love to help!
I can donate a couple memberships to my meal planning service (its Paleo) if that would be helpful! Just email me if you are
Thank you so very very much Katie! We are so grateful for the generosity of so many people. I just emailed you.
I just bought a puppy, and I blogged today about she alerted me to a low blood sugar last night. She isn’t trained, so I don’t think she would be 100% accurate, but it is a real relief to have her! I know you and your little boy will sleep so much more soundly with your new dog around!
So glad you found us! Yes, a dog’s sense of smell is so intense that they can smell the sweetness in a person if you are too low or too high. We are so excited to have this extra help in our family. I am happily awaiting the night that I can sleep soundly again.
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