Hailee Blonquist's service dog, Katie, appears in her high school yearbook this school year, a nod to the dog's friendly ways at the school and ability to help her diabetic-stricken owner.
Blonquist, 17, a junior at North Summit High School, suffers from Type 1 diabetes. The dog has been Blonquist's constant companion since purchasing her as a pup, People magazine reported.
Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It can cause a wide range of symptoms from increased thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue and weakness, blurred vision, and mood swings, noted the Mayo Clinic.
Katie can sense when Blonquist's blood sugar level changes and even responds with a box of juice if needed, People noted.
"I would say she's probably saved my life six or seven times," Blonquist told People. "When Katie started going to high school with me, she immediately became everybody’s friend."
So it was not a complete surprise for Blonquist when the school added Katie's picture to the yearbook next to hers.
"I thought they might stick a picture of her somewhere in the yearbook, but to see her right next to me as "Katie Blonquist' was pretty cool," Blonquist told People. "Everyone loves Katie. She's always been by my side."
Her parents Destinie and Axcil Blonquist told the magazine that they were skeptical about a trained dog for diabetic owners at first but Katie proved herself to be a valuable companion.
Service dogs in yearbooks appear to be a trend this year. Southern Living reported last month that Alpha Schalk, the diabetic service dog for student Andrew Schalk, was placed next to his yearbook picture at Stafford High School in Falmouth, Virginia.
Timber Creek High School in Keller, Texas, also added the service dog for student Kathryn Campbell to their yearbook as well, posting a sneak peak of what it looks like on Facebook last month.
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