A boy who saved every penny he could find for four years ultimately raised enough money to buy a service dog to help manage his diabetes.
"Everything he got for his allowance, his birthday, Christmas, all went into his dog fund," Aiden's mother, Jenni Heath, told The Valley Reporter.
Ever since he learned about diabetes dogs, Aiden has stored his extra change in jars around his house, saving every penny to afford the $15,000 pet. Diabetes dogs are specially trained to monitor glucose levels and alert their owners to a drop in blood sugar.
"As they say, every penny counts," 8-year-old Aiden Heath of Waitsfield, Vermont, told WHTM.
"They can sense it 20 minutes to 30 minutes before the blood meter actually tells you that you're low," said Jenni Heath, Aiden's mother.
Aiden was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 3 years old. Since his diagonosis, Jenni Heath has had to check Aiden's blood-sugar levels three-four times each night, the family told The Valley Reporter. Having a service dog would mean a full night's sleep and peace of mind for Aiden.
Earlier this year, when Aiden was $9,000 shy of his goal, news coverage of his story brought in more than $20,000 in donations. Heath was able to put a down payment on a chocolate lab named Angel who was training to become a service dog in Nevada.
Jenni Heath told ABC News that the family watched Angel grow through photos and videos. Angel recently passed all her tests and arrived at the family's home Monday morning.
"Aiden is over the moon," Jenni Heath told ABC News. "He was on pins and needles waiting for her."
Family members said they are grateful for everyone's support throughout the process.
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