Profiles

My name is Jessica, and I am 15 years old. I’ve had diabetes – type 1 since I was 10 years old.

As I get older I want more independence, but, my parents have difficulty allowing that since I often have trouble with my Blood Glucose Levels.

When my Mum read about "Paws for Diabetes" last year she was very excited.

I got my beautiful little black and tan Chihuahua puppy last year, her name is "Lily". I choose her when she was one-week old, and I was able to collect her when she was six-weeks old. My Mum left an old T-Shirt so she we would be familiar when she came home with us.  She was about 10 weeks old when my mum started noticing that she was alerting, she was very excited.  We contacted “Paws for Diabetes” to see if they could help us train her, so Gail Armstrong and her daughter Cathy came over and met us and eventually we were accepted into the program.

Lily is the greatest four legged friend I could have.  She sleeps with me and when I am low she nibbles my fingers, if I don’t wake up she goes and jumps all over my mum to get her attention.  One day my mum was downstairs when I was having a hypo, so Lily brought me some biscuits (doggy biscuits).  My mum thought that was very sweet.  I take her with me almost everywhere, and she behaves very well.  She will stay in her bag when I eat and she never begs. 

She is still in training and she doesn’t always get it right, and she is mischievous, but she’s on her way to making me independent.

Update

People often ask us what does Lily do for Jessica; but until see it - it’s hard for outsiders to believe.

Lily goes with us to church all the time and other church goers often comment that she is better behaved than many of the children.  But within the last two weeks Lily has alerted in front of people who are now amazed at her “ability”.  During one of the Easter Mass’ Lily was lying in her basket at Jessica’s feet when I am told by others around Lily who was sleeping suddenly awoke and started licking Jessica’s hand.  I guess Jessica didn’t react fast enough, so Lily started crawling under the chairs pulling on her lead to get to me; she got to me and started jumping at my feet and trying to nip my finger tips.  My first reaction was that she was bored and wanted a cuddle; but as you know these loving creatures have their own way of communication.  She was so uncontrollably excited that my next thought was that I should check on Jessica.  I turned around (because she was in a different section of the choir to me) and I could see her eyes looking so lethargic.  I immediately told her to check her BGL; and no surprise, she was having a hypo.  She immediately had a drink to bring her levels back up.  During this time Lily had left me and gone back to Jessica and very calmly went back to her basket.  The people around her were amazed at how she reacted and then how once she was convinced that Jessica was dealing with her hypo she behaved in such a calm manner. 

I was so happy that she alerted in public – she was so proud of herself, as was I!!!

She alerted at church AGAIN last night!!! This time I wasn’t sitting in her area but was on the alter.  Lily tried alerting to my Mum (Jessica’s Grandmother), but she’s not used to knowing what to look for – Lily got frustrated enough that she decided to leave where they were sitting and headed in my direction (on the alter)....  Mum now thinking that Lily was being naughty asked Jessica to calm her down only to discover that Jessica was already having a drink and was indeed having a hypo!!  Mum then felt guilty that she hadn’t paid attention to what she was trying to tell her and had to over compensate the praise!!!  It was a sight to see (Mum is from the old school – dogs shouldn’t lick you in the face – although she is aware that she and Jessica have a very special relationship).  Well, Lily was very well rewarded for doing her job so well.

Mum described what happened as we left the church; as we walked behind Jessica and Lily both walking so proud and with Lily’s tail as usual waving very proudly.

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