A life Saving Compainon for Chase

September 2009 will never be forgotten in our family. This was the month that we found out that Chase's life would forever be changed.  
        September 9th 2009, Chase was 3 years old and he was enjoying his first trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. We were having a great time, but towards the end of our trip Chase became seriously ill. He would cry that his tummy hurt, get sick to his stomach and he couldn't stop drinking or wetting himself. So on the road home from our beach trip, I called his pediatrician to set him up an appointment for the next morning to be seen for your standard stomach bug (so we thought). 
       The morning of his appointment.  Chase was white as a ghost, he body was like a limp noodle in my arms and could barely hold his on head up, he seem almost lifeless. After a few questions and a few test later, his pediatrician came into our exam room and gave me the shocking news.  Chase had become Type 1 Diabetic (T1D) his glucose level were over 900.  I was told to go out the back door and go straight to the ER, she had already called the hospital and they were waiting on us. I was crying all the way to Greenville Memorial Hospital, once at the hospital I was still in shock and terrified, my poor baby boy had been sick all that week and I just assumed it was your common stomach bug. I never knew children could become diabetic and no one in my family had ever been diagnosed with diabetes. After 3 days of being in the hospital Chase was feeling better and was ready to be discharged home. I use to think bringing home your new born baby for the very first time was the scariest thing you could experience but I was wrong. Bringing home your newly diagnosed diabetic son for the first time, knowing you were responsible for all his testing and giving him insulin shots to keep him healthy and alive is the scariest thing I have ever experienced.
         November 2014, 5 years after being diagnosed Chase is now 8 years old on an insulin pump. He constantly struggles day to day to keep his diabetes under control. Because children's little bodies are constantly changing and growing every day it makes it harder to keep his glucose levels under control. 
          This is where we need your help. Due to his constant struggle with managing his diabetes we are wanting to get Chase a Diabetic alert service dog. The dog will be able to catch Chase's glucose levels before its too late and his glucose is either too high or too low and by that point his little body is already affected by it. Because of that he has to be given extra treatment or even a trip to the ER.  It is hard for Chase to tell when his sugar level are off, so he doesn't know to check if he feels "funny" until its too late. The Diabetic alert dog will be able to sniff out Chase levels 30mins sooner than a glucose meter can read. The dog will be able to watch over Chase morning, noon and night to help make sure he stays healthy and happy.
        We have found a service dog company in Anderson, SC that has the type of dog Chase needs. Unfortunately service dogs do not come cheap. Due to cost and training for both the service dog and Chase it will be at least a year before Chase will actually get his dog. During that time we ask if you could please help. Any donation no matter how big or small will be greatly appreciated and it will also go towards helping Chase get his new best friend that will help him live a healthier happier life.

Thank you for taking the time to read Chase's story.