Community surprises teen with fundraiser

By KAYE THORNBRUGH

Staff Writer

Hayven Chase has overcome many hurdles in her 15 years — on horseback and in her personal life.

Type 1 diabetes is just one of them.

Hayven was diagnosed with the disease when she was 8 years old. Despite the challenges of living with diabetes, the diagnosis didn’t slow her down. Seven years later, Hayven is an active equestrian and the lady in waiting to be the 2020 Miss Bonner County Rodeo Queen.

“She’s determined and resilient and doesn’t want to let this disease take her life,” said Roxanne Chase, Hayven’s mom.

This morning, Hayven’s family and friends are gathering for a fundraiser to support Hayven, who needs a diabetes medical alert dog.

The “omoksee” — horse racing — event, which is a surprise for Hayven, begins at 9 a.m. at Remingon Arena in Athol.

Though Hayven is good about managing her diabetes, she struggles with a serious complication called hypoglycemia unawareness.

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is usually accompanied by symptoms like shakiness, sweating, chills or dizziness. But some people, like Hayven, feel no symptoms when their blood sugar drops, so they don’t know they need to treat it.

They can’t tell when their blood sugar gets low, so they don’t know they need to treat it. If blood sugar levels continue to drop, the brain does not get enough glucose and stops functioning as it should.

Prolonged low blood sugars can lead to seizures, coma and even death.

It’s a serious concern for Hayven. Roxanne says her daughter experiences more lows at night than the average diabetic, and she sleeps right through them.

Diabetes-alert dogs are trained to detect fluctuations in blood sugar and alert the person with diabetes to major changes. In other words, the dog will know her blood sugar is low even if she doesn’t realize it — and it’s far more pleasant than the fingerstick typically required for a diabetic to test her blood sugar.

“Right now, her dad and I are her alert dogs,” Roxanne said. “We take care of her all night. We lose a lot of sleep, but as a parent, it’s just something you do.”

A few years from now, Hayven hopes to go to college to become a large animal vet. But her mom worries about how she’ll fare.

“Having a diabetes alert dog would help her gain more independence,” Roxanne said.

An investment in a diabetes alert dog can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $20,000. Hayven will need help from her community to raise enough money.

“Hayven is everybody’s sweetheart,” said Cheri Thaut, a family friend who organized the fundraiser. “She’s such a nice, polite young woman, and she uses her royalty status as a platform to educate people on Type 1.”

Roxanne said Hayven is passionate about teaching others about her disease, which affects millions of people. About 193,000 Americans younger than 20 are estimated to have diagnosed diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

“Type 1 is often misunderstood, and all too often, the diagnosis is missed, which can be catastrophic,” Roxanne said. “It’s important for her to raise awareness.”

Hayven is also a role model to other kids living with Type 1.

Roxanne recalled a little girl who approached Hayven at an event. The girl was in tears — happy and overwhelmed to see someone with diabetes doing and achieving so much.

“She does everything that other kids do,” Thaut said. “She doesn’t let the disease slow her down.”

With the help of an alert dog, Hayven’s family hopes to see her clear even more hurdles.

Remington Arena is at 1631 E. Remington Road in Athol.