When I was 14 years old I was Diagnosed with Type I Diabetes.

I kept tight control over the years of my Diabetes, as such, I have never had serious problems with my kidneys,
eyesight or other problems that may affect Diabetics.

My children were born healthy (including the twins, David & Danielle).
They all had normal birth weights

After having Diabetes for 28 years, I started to develop 'Hypoglycemic Unawareness'. I also
developed seizures due to my inability to know when my blood sugars were low.

I had many many near-death experiences, including numerous car accidents, almost drowning in our swimming pool
while having a seizure. I have stopped breathing while having seizures, I have fallen down and hit my
head on the corner of our end table. (Needless to say, that corner of the end table is missing).
Those are just a few experiences over a course of years of seizures.

Our local Volunteer Paramedics knew me by name. They were at our house on a weekly basis.

My life was saved on more than one occasion by Bull (CH Temora Bully For You). I did not recognize it at first, but when my blood sugars got low, he would get quite bothersome. After a while I figured out that when he was getting to be a pill, by jumping on me and nudging my hand, he was telling me my blood sugars were low.
EACH time I took my blood sugar when he got this way, it was below 70. The time that I had a seizure and hit my head on the corner of the end table , when I woke up on the floor, Bull was on top of me licking my face. I do not know how many seizures he saved me from, but I know he saved my life.
After my transplant, in 2009 my kidneys were getting a bit stressed. It was BULL who let me know, I learned a long time ago to listen to him and when he went nuts everytime I went to the bathroom, I knew something was wrong, and it was. That situation has since been corrected, but I could have suffered irreversible kidney damage if not for him.

Some of his offspring have also had this trait. This is what one owner had to say of a Bully daughter:

I know I have told you in the past that Mavis has come to sit with me when I am about to have an asthma attack. Well, a few weeks ago I was suffering from a pretty nasty upper lung infection. I had all sorts of medicine, including some tranquilizer's because when I would get into the worst of it I would get panicky while waiting for the medicine to work. Anyway, I was sitting on my couch having a particularly bad episode and Mavis was sitting above me on the back of the couch. As I started to have that panic feeling, Mavis did this weird thing where she took her paws and pulled me against the couch with all her strength and then rested her head on mine so I was like in a vice. It was to the point of being physically uncomfortable for me, but she wouldn't relent. After sitting like that for 10 minutes she let me go and I was fine, my medicine had kicked in. She really is something.

At the end of the Year 2003 I read about an experimental procedure called an 'Islet Cell Transplant'.
The University Hospital & Clinics in Madison WI was doing Clinical trials.

I found out during my initial consult that I qualified for the transplant!

Our insurance refused to pay for the transplant, so with the help of TAKE THE LEAD and other Dog Fanciers, an
E-Bay Auction and Benefit Fund were set up.
My family was able to raise the money for the transplant with their help and a loan from the Bank.

In YR2005, I had two transplants. The first in April, the second in August.
The surgery is relativley simple and I was home in two days and back to work in 3!

By September of '05, I was off insulin for the FIRST time in 28 years.

As of this writing (2012), my Islet Cells are still going strong and I am now enjoying a life I thought I would never have.

I owe my life to my Husband for staying by my side through all the years of medical problems, to Dr Louis Fernandez
and Dr Jon Odorico my Transplant Doctors, Nancy Radke R.N., my Transplant Nurse Coordinator, to my dog Bully who for some reason, had the ability to recognize my low blood sugars, and last but not least, the people who signed their drivers license to be Organ Donors/Beneficiaries.
THANK YOU!

Below are links to UWM to learn more about Islet Cell Transplants:

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL & CLINICS - MADISON WI

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL & CLINICS - MY STORY