On Friday, one of our local news stations, Fox 5, came by the house. Molly, the news anchor who interviewed us the first time, had reached out to say they’d received incredible feedback about Kay’s story and her journey to get a diabetic alert dog—and they wanted to come back to do a follow-up segment! We worked out a day and time that suited everyone, and they scheduled the visit.
I asked Molly if there was anything specific I should prepare for, but she said no—they just planned to come by, ask a few more questions, and catch up on how things were going.
When the day arrived, we spent the morning getting ready and excitedly waiting for Molly and the cameraman to arrive. We had such a great experience during our first interview, and Molly is so kind—we were really looking forward to seeing her again.
When the doorbell rang, Kay and I went to answer it, and to our surprise, there was Molly… but she wasn’t alone. She had several people with her, along with cameras—and then she announced she was there with the Fox 5 Surprise Squad! The moment I heard those words, I almost burst into tears. If you know what the Surprise Squad does for families, you know how heartwarming and impactful their work is.
We welcomed everyone inside, got set up to film, and they began asking a few questions—mostly about why getting a diabetic alert dog is so important for Kay and what it would mean for our family. After the questions, they handed me a red box, beautifully tied with a red bow. When I opened it, I found a paper inside that said we were being gifted $4,000 toward Kay’s fund to get her diabetic alert dog.
My mom and I immediately started crying.
They asked me what this gift meant to us, and all I could say was—it means everything. Truly. When we began this process and launched the GoFundMe, I didn’t know what to expect. I wasn’t sure how successful it would be, or if Kay’s story would even reach many people. I understand how tough things are right now, and I never expected anyone to give us the money they work so hard for.
But the love and support Kay has received… it’s been overwhelming in the best way. My heart is so full of gratitude. It’s not that I ever doubted people’s love for Kay or their support—but I’m also realistic and knew that donations might not come in.
Some people might not understand why we’re doing this—why we’re asking for help, or why a diabetic alert dog is so important. And that’s okay. We’re not trying to convince anyone or pressure them. We know how critical this is for Kay’s safety and independence—and many others understand too. That’s what matters.
I never imagined that starting this journey would bring so much exposure and support, in more ways than I ever dreamed. I’m not sure when the news segment will air, but I cannot wait to see the final piece.
To everyone who has supported Kay—whether through donations, kind words, or simply following along—thank you. We are endlessly grateful.