Next week, Fr. Jack Siefert, of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church will receive a new best friend.
Francis, a black Labrador retriever service dog, will arrive to help Siefert manage his type 1 diabetes. Fr. Siefert chose the dog’s name.
Siefert was diagnosed when he was three years old. “I’ve been managing my condition for a long time, and as new therapies and management aides, like insulin pumps, became available, I’ve adapted,” he said. “This is another way to help diabetics live healthier lives.”
St. Mary Magdalen School Principal Kathy Wiseman formed the “Francis Fund” to help raise almost $18,000 so far, for the cost of the dog. Costs for a service dog such as Francis can exceed $25,000 she said.
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Francis will alert Siefert if he needs to check his glucometer readings. If Seifert is unable to respond Francis is trained to call 911 by hitting a call button that plays a pre-recorded message from Siefert.
Francis will be introduced to the school and parish communities Sept. 19 at three assemblies: 1 p.m. (grades 4-8), 2:15 p.m. (grades JK-3) and 7 p.m., in the school gym. Parishioners are welcome to attend the daytime assemblies.
Are you still in need of funds?
The Francis Fund stands at about $17,000. If you would like to make a donation, you may do so by sending a check to:
Saint Mary Magdalen Catholic Church
Francis Fund
2618 S. Brentwood Blvd
Brentwood MO 63144
make sure to mark the memo line of your check as ‘Francis Fund’
Thanks!
Have enough funds been collected to pay for Francis?
Ms. Wheat,
We are about $10,000 away from being able to pay for Francis….
Sam Nickrent
Saint Mary Magdalen Technology Cooordinator