A Clarksville teen has taken on the task of raising at least $25,000 for a Diabetic Alert Dog to help her with her Diabetes.
As winter turns to spring, Vanessia Grissom, 14, began to spend a lot more time practicing outside. Archery helps her relax and focus but her love is basketball, a sport she can't play.
Venessia was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 8-years-old. "I couldn't go to friends' houses. I couldn't do everything that other kids wanted to do," she explained.
The soft spoken teen may be a little camera shy, but pricking her finger doesn't even warrant a flinch. It is a task she's gotten used to over the years. Her family moved to Tennessee to be closer to her doctors at Vanderbilt University.
"This is an invisible illness, it is life threatening and a lot of people don't realize that," her mom, Candice Boggs said.
To help, doctors recommend Venessia get a Diabetic Alert Dog. The dogs are trained to alert their owners long before their blood sugar gets too low or high.
"The reason why I wanted a diabetic alert dog is because it will give me and my family peace of mind," Venessia said.
Her mom, however, is a single mother raising two kids. Finding the extra $25,000 for a diabetic alert dog will be a challenge.
"They're amazing animals. I truly believe these are lifesaving animals," Boggs said.
For Venessia, the dog could potentially help save her life. "If she's asleep and that's not a time I'm checking it and she gets low, she could go into a coma," said Boggs.
A Gofundme page has been set up to help Venessia raise the money, if you'd like to help CLICK HERE.
