Jenn's Story

Type I Diabetes for most people is a matter of finding the right insulin doses, counting all carbohydrates correctly, getting on a strict schedule, remembering to give shots, etc.  But for some diabetics, it is much more difficult to keep their blood sugar levels in a safe range. 

Jenn has had Type I Diabetes since she was fifteen years old.  She is currently 33, and has been struggling for 18 years with her diabetes.  For Jenn, even now, with her insulin pump AND a continuous glucose monitoring system, she is still having a lot of dangerous high and low numbers.  Jenn and her doctors are doing everything they can, but she is still very unstable. 

Every time her blood sugar is too high there is a risk of long term damage (organ failure, loss of limbs, blindness, etc) or the risk of seizures or coma.  We need to prevent this in order for her to live a long full life.  However, what is even more immediately dangerous, are the low blood sugar levels.  If her blood sugar drops too low and we are not able to catch and treat it in time the risk is seizure, coma, and even death. Jenn’s blood sugar levels drop unexpectedly and very, very quickly she is not aware of this when it happens, creating a life threatening situation on nearly a daily basis! 

As a family, we are trying to find help for Jenn.  Recently, she found an organization that trains medical alert dogs to smell when someone’s blood sugar is starting to drop too low or go too high (http://www.heavenscentpaws.com).  Because of the intense training, these dogs cost a great deal for the organization to train and place one.  Jenn is scheduled to go in July of 2008, as an “emergency” addition to their July program, due to the severity of her condition.  The organization does not require Jenn to pay for the dog, but instead asks that she help by fundraising to help defer the costs of the service dog.

Please see the fundraising page on how you can help us raise money for Heaven Scent Paws!

We cannot tell you how much we appreciate all the words of encouragement and your donations. This dog has given Jenn the hope of again having the freedom of a regular adult lifestyle, as well as a long and healthy life!

Thank you -

The Schadt/Agosti/Mueller/Slocum/Nguyen Family