Shadow Children

Banting the Incredible Service Dog

 

Nearly five years ago, my brother Jon welcomed a new member into his family; Banting a beautiful chocolate lab. Those of you who have some knowledge of the history of diabetes, will recognize that Banting is named after Dr. Fred Banting, who along with his colleague, Charles Best, discovered insulin. This is most fitting because Banting is not just a pet; he is a working, service dog. Since he was a puppy, Banting has been trained to sense changes in my brother's blood sugar levels and alert Jon to highs and lows. Banting displays a variety of signals to Jon that communicate whether the issue is low or high blood sugar. Not only is this amazing, it actually works!  Banting and Jon are constant companions, with Banting going wherever my brother does.  As I write this, Banting is with Jon in Texas. He is the most well-traveled dog I have ever known and has logged thousand of miles in both cars and airplanes. Banting and similar service dogs really prove that dog's our man's best friend
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Published!

After three years, I am happy to report that Shadow Child; My Life as a Sibling to Chronic Disease has been published! I am very grateful for all those who have helped make this book possible including my wife, mom, brother and kids! I also would like to thank Julie Laing, who edited the book for me. If anyone is ever looking for an editor, I would certainly recommend working with Julie. It’s very exciting to see this work out, and to be able to promote it. I sincerely believe that this book will be helpful for many siblings of brothers and sisters undergoing the challenges of chronic diseases. So, as they say in the movies, the adventure begins!