Lizella Teen Raising Funds for Diabetic Alert Dog, Getting Support From Around the Country

LIZELLA, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A dog can be a great companion, playmate, and also a life saver for one Lizella teen diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes

Music is one of Jordan Malcott’s passions. The 16-year-old plays piano and marches in the band at Tatnall Square Academy. The same fingers that stroke the keys of the piano also get pricked up to 12 times a day.

Jordan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes four years ago. She is now considered a brittle diabetic.

“Your sugars really go haywire and, its almost like with insulin resistance, whenever my blood sugar drops low it just does not want to come back up and whenever it goes high it does not want to come back down,” Jordan said. “Blood sugars under 50 can cause seizures and blood sugars under 35 can cause brain damage.”

Jordan goes in and out of hospitals every six to eight weeks. She’s missed more than 40 days of school this year. Her mom says they have tried everything to monitor her levels.

“We’ve tried the insulin pumps and the continuous glucose monitors and nothing like that is really helping,” Karen Malcott said.

That is when Jordan decided she wanted a diabetic alert dog.

“He would notify me before my sugar reaches to the point where my body becomes insulin resistance, so I’ll be able to do something about it and will not end up in the hospital or extremely sick,” Jordan said.

“Knowing that the dog can possibly catch it before it got as dangerously low, that’s the reassurance you have,” her mother said.

This life saver on four legs doesn’t come cheap. Jordan says a diabetic alert dog can cost up to $20,000 and medical insurance does not cover it. That is why she put together a video, reached out on social media looking for help, and she found it.

“It’s really nice to know that my family, friends, and even strangers just care about this,” Jordan said.

“It makes me feel overwhelmed, that people still want the best for people,” Karen said.

That overwhelming feeling fuels Jordan’s drive to raise Type 1 diabetes awareness and keep playing for the cause.

In just five days, Jordan has raised more than $3,600. She is also working with her high school to create fundraisers.

 Click here for more information and to learn how you can help .