The Powell family of Plains, Texas, is reaching out to the community for help in securing a life-saving service dog for their youngest daughter, Kimber. The Powell family consists of 8-year-old Kooper, 6-year-old Kensey, 4-year-old Kimber, and parents Kenyon and Kelsey.
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
The family’s life took a dramatic turn during a trip to Lubbock in October 2023. While traveling back home, Kimber, then just 3 years old, repeatedly needed to use the restroom. This unusual behavior raised concerns for her mother, Kelsey.
“That is not normal,” Kelsey said. “Even at 2-and-a-half, she was fully potty trained and she might have gone one time, two times on the way home from Lubbock. That day she went seven times.”
After a visit to the emergency room, doctors discovered Kimber’s blood glucose level was an alarming 548, far above the normal range. It was then that Kimber was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
“I could be a diabetic, that would be one thing, I could live with that,” Kelsey said, “but when it’s your child and you can’t take it away and it’s nonstop, 24 hours a day… it’s truly awful to see your child go through that.”
Living with Type 1 Diabetes
Since Kimber’s diagnosis, her life has been drastically altered. She now wears a continuous glucose monitor and uses an insulin pump. The family is grateful for the technology, but they recognize its limitations.
“We are so thankful to have a pump now and to have a glucose meter,” Kelsey shared. “We constantly have readings that update every five minutes with the Dexcom. While technology is amazing, even with technology, it fails more times than not.”
A Ray of Hope: Diabetic Alert Dog
To further assist Kimber with her condition, the Powell family has started a GoFundMe and t-shirt fundraiser to help raise the necessary funds to acquire a diabetic alert dog. The cost for such a service dog typically ranges from $20,000 to $30,000.
The specialized dog would be trained to detect Kimber’s personal scent, alerting her parents when her blood sugar levels are either rising or dropping dangerously. This early warning system can prevent serious health issues before they escalate to critical levels.
“With a service dog, they have the scent tailored to her, her own personal scent, and when her blood sugar is either rising or dropping, it can alert us in this safety zone,” Kelsey explained. “When she’s 80 and if she’s rapidly dropping, it can alert us before she actually gets to 80 or before she gets to 70, before it gets critical.”
Looking Ahead
The Powell family hopes that with the assistance of a diabetic service dog, Kimber will gain more independence, allowing her to enjoy life without the constant oversight of her parents. They are optimistic that this new companion will not only provide crucial health benefits but also help create lasting memories.
“We’re hoping that with getting a dog, she can be more independent,” Kelsey said. “She’s gonna do big things.”
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