Maggie Leptrone, a nursing student from the University of West Georgia, was just a child when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Growing up, she experienced multiple health concerns, which worried her parents, especially when her blood sugar levels dipped too low.
Sometimes, she would slip into a mini-coma, and her parents couldn’t wake her up for a long time. When she fainted at school and needed emergency treatments, her mother couldn’t take it anymore. Her daughter needed help and a constant companion. So they decided to get Maggie a service dog.
Detection
After thoroughly researching which pooch would be perfect, the family chose Mona, a gentle and lovable Labradoodle. They are popular choices for service dogs as the breed is known for its calm demeanor and intelligence. They adapt well to training and can be relaxed around lots of people.
They placed Mona in a training program for diabetic alert dogs. There she learned how to detect changes in blood sugar levels using her keen sense of smell. Before Maggie’s blood sugar reaches critical levels, the well-trained pooch will let her know, and the young lady will have time to regulate it or at least get some help.
When Maggie finished high school, she took Mona with her to university and earn her nursing degree.
Graduation
Mona attended every class Maggie had. The nursing student was very grateful that her professors were very understanding of her situation. They welcomed the service dog into their classrooms and found ways to accommodate her. They didn’t see the young woman’s illness as a hindrance to achieving her goals and lauded her for her dedication to helping others.
When she finally graduated, Mona was by her side as well. When Maggie walked up the stage to receive her diploma, her service dog got one as well. This was in recognition of the canine’s valuable help to her best friend throughout her road to getting her degree.
Source: UWG