A CGM for Miah.

Fundraising campaign by Michelle D
  • ZAR17,000
    raised of R24,200.00 goal goal
70% Funded
8 Donors
Raised offline: R9,700.00
Total: R26,700.00

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities

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On 9 March 2015, at age 11, our daughter Miah, was diagnosed with a life long, high maintenance, life threatening, autoimmune disease, which causes irractic blood sugars and for which there is NO CURE.

Without any warning, and for no known reason her body turned on itself and destroyed and killed off all of the insulin producing beta cells in her pancreas. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) had arrogantly waltzed into her life and life as she knew it would never be the same again.

For the rest of Miah's life the only way for her to survive is to check and monitor her blood sugars and inject insulinseveral times a day, including overnight.

  • Every day she endures multiple finger pricks (up to 15 times a day - more if she is ill) and insulin injections (up to 6 or 7 shots per day);
  • attend annual multiple appointments with her endocrinologist and therapist;
  • and her diet requires certain special foods.

Miah loves sports - she participates in horse riding and cross country running. Sadly this disease is a constant struggle physically, emotionally and financially which impacts her and our lives on various levels: her every day routines, the sports she participates in, her energy levels, her stress levels, logistics, our resources, our time, our sleep.


What we are hoping and praying to provide Miah with is a CGM (Continious Glucose Monitor).

It is a small wearable device that tracks blood glucose in a person's interstitial fluid throughout the day and night, every 5 minutes, notifying her and us of high or low blood sugars. Instead of just reporting a single number, the device notifies you if a hyperglycemic episode (high blood sugar) or a hypoglycemic episode (low blood sugar) is approaching which means that we can act pro-actively.

Consistant glucose spikes cause damage to organs over time, which puts a person with T1D much more at risk for a variety of health complications later in life. Also while an adult might be more cognizant of the subtle symptoms associated with hypos and hypers, a child is less mindful. And at night times we have to monitor her blood sugars to help keep her safe.

Managing T1D is a full time job, 24/7/365, day and night.

During nights blood glucose levels tend to either drop which can cause hypoglycemic episodes which could result in a coma; or spike due to growth hormones being naturally released when a child is sleeping which causes insulin resistance which results in hyperglycemic episodes. Managing this disease is neverending.

CGMs are not commonly covered by health insurance companies in our country. However, Miah's endocrinologist submitted a special authority application for a CGM on her behalf. Unfortunately our private health insurance declined this application twice and refused to cover this technology. Sadly our situation is not uncommon and thousands of people around the globe are continuelly confronted with this ongoing battle pertaining their T1 technology and T1 supplies.

Our family needs your help. Every month we have out of pocket medical expenses pertaining her T1 Diabetes as well as expenses pertaining specialized doctors care and visits to her therapist throughout the year. We do not have the capacity to take on this additional monthly cost without outside help.

The startup and annual cost for a device is R14 000, and thereafter it is a minimum of R1700 per month to maintain use. We want to raise the fees for the device (R14 000) as well as approximately six months worth of monthly sensors (R10 200).

The device is a lifechanger:

  • it will help Miah and us to better manage her diabetes by tracking her glucose levels 24/7 and help us identify and manage blood glucose trends;
  • it will make the juggling act of her sport-and-diabetes-combo easier;
  • and it will provide us with an enormous peace of mind and allow us to get more sleep during the nights;
  • it will help her make navigating through everyday-diabetes-logistics less stressful and easier to manage;
  • and it will help safeguarding her from hypoglycemic episodes during nights.

Miah has just completed a two week trial period with a CGM and we are convinced, more than ever, that this device will be an answer to:

  • help relieve some of the challenges and stress she deals with managing her diabetes and life and sport;
  • help relieve some of the challenges she deals with pertaining her overall daily diabetes management;
  • and help make night times less stressful to manage.

Miah is a beautiful and intelligent young girl with a passion for horses and reading and she has many dreams and goals for her future. Miah is a model of courage, bravery, resilience and tonacity. She has risen above many challenges and lives a full life despite this disease. She might have diabetes, but diabetes certainly doesn't have her.

We so desperately want to see her live a long life and make her dreams come true and embrace and take hold of the destiny God has set before her. She is an inspiration to many.

Thank you so very, very much for considering supporting our young daughter and contribute to her fundraising campaign.

Organizer

  • Michelle D
  •  
  • Campaign Owner

Donors

R1000.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 05, 2017
  • Wishing you a very blessed life Miah!

Amount Hidden
R5000.00
May 21

UPDATE: The CGM arrives!!

Update posted by Michelle D at 08:28 am

This is the face of a grateful 13 year old #T1Warrior after she unsuspectingly opened a gift and discovered her very own CGM starterpack inside! Joy! Excitement!For her THIS is a dream come true and an answer to our prayers. Evidence of grace. We are eternally grateful.The set-up will happen

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0
May 05

FEEDBACK: 5 MAY 2017 - the day we say THANK YOU!!

Update posted by Michelle D at 11:33 am

WOW!! At this present time our family is completely and utterly overwhelmed by the generosity and giving hearts of family and friends and even people we have never met. We stand humble in the face of the blessing and favour that has been extended to us. On this day, 5. . . . .

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0

Donors & Comments

8 donors
R1000.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on May 05, 2017
  • Wishing you a very blessed life Miah!

Amount Hidden
R5000.00
  • Karen Stark
  • Donated on Apr 27, 2017
R1200.00
  • Hanneli Vorster
  • Donated on Apr 27, 2017
  • Net vir jou Liefste Miah! Lief jou baie ❣

R500.00
  • Gerhard Vorster
  • Donated on Apr 27, 2017
R1000.00
R3200.00
  • Anonymous
  • Donated on Apr 21, 2017
R100.00

Followers

5 followers
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Geneve Richard
Karlien Van Staden
Deon Grove
Yolandé Kersop
ZAR17,000
raised of R24,200.00 goal
70% Funded
8 Donors
Raised offline: R9,700.00
Total: R26,700.00

No more donations are being accepted at this time. Please contact the campaign owner if you would like to discuss further funding opportunities