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A Boy With Diabetes Saves Pennies For 4 Years To Buy His Own Service Dog

October 14, 2016

An eight-year-old from Waitsfield, Vermont, has spent the last four years collecting loose change with a goal in mind: to buy his very own service dog.

That dedication paid off this week when Aiden came face to face with his new best friend, Angel.

"Aiden looked at me and said, 'This is a dream,'" his mother, Jenni Heath, said.

Aiden was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four years ago. Soon after he learned about canines trained to help monitor glucose levels in people.

"They can sense it 20 minutes to 30 minutes before the blood meter actually tells you that you're low," Jenni explained.

Service dogs are expensive - each costing $15,000. But not to be discouraged, Aiden's mom told her son to save, one penny at a time.

When Aiden was about $9,000 from his goal, news coverage of his story helped bring in donations from across the U.S., raising more than $20,000 almost overnight.

On Monday, Angel arrived from Nevada to the Aiden's home.

"We have been so amazed by the outpouring of support," Jenni said. "He is feeling the love. There are no words."

Read the full story on ABC News