Upon seeing a daisy, many people succumb to the temptation of pressing their nose to it and engaging their sense of smell. Upon seeing Diabetes Assist Dog Daisy, Deavan remembers, “It was love at first sight.”
By engaging her sense of smell and pressing her nose against Deavan to alert him of blood sugar lows, Daisy is bringing a fresh sense of safety to him. He says, “There has never been anything in the world that could alert me of a low blood sugar before I realized it, until I met Daisy. Her nose knows!”
At 28 years old, he has experienced blood sugar lows nearly his whole life, saying, “I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 13 months old.” Over the years, Deavan developed a routine for his diabetes, but mentions, “There are so many variables throughout the day that can affect my blood sugars. I am a busy person and it is easy for me to get caught up in whatever I'm doing.” He adds, “I love to golf, fish, and travel and I have gone low in every one of those situations. It can be uncomfortable and potentially an emergency.” While Deavan does use a device to monitor his blood sugar level, he says, “Technology fails and is not always 100% accurate.”
When his wife, who is a hair stylist, learned about Can Do Canines from a client, Deavan decided to apply for an assistance dog. He admits, "I did not know what to expect. Can Do Canines definitely surpassed any exceptions I did have. The whole process was amazing and I learned so much about myself and of course, the incredible skills that service dogs have.”
Daisy plants herself in Deavan’s life
His admiration for service dogs has blossomed, thanks to one in particular. Deavan met Daisy and her remarkable nose in August 2024. He says, “ I love dogs and have had black Labs my whole life but I knew she was special.” Yes, this black Lab is able to alert Deavan of potentially dangerous blood sugar levels before they even go low. “The way Daisy flips the switch is my favorite part. She will just be laying down, relaxing and then she smells a low blood sugar and jumps right into work mode. . . She still surprises me every day and reminds me how smart she is!”
Deavan is delighted to share, “Daisy has become my little sidekick,” even accompanying him throughout the day as he works as a manager for UPS. He finds relief in the safety her support brings him and says, “Having Daisy makes me feel like I am not alone on this diabetic journey.”
Someone else will soon be a part of Deavan’s journey. He explains, “My wife and I are having our first child [in 2025], and having Daisy to help us grow as a family and feel safe, is something that I am extremely happy for. . . My life has been changed for the better in so many ways!”
The seed for that change? One beautiful Daisy.
Thank you to all those who made this partnership possible:
Raisers — Mary McConnell, Drew Wineland
Special Thanks — Chippewa Valley Correctional Institution, Federal Correctional Institution-Waseca
Terry and Kirby Take Living Positively to a New Level
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