When Hailey-Dawn Zatko, 9, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of six, she didn’t only focus on her illness. Instead, she, along with her grandma Denise Johnston, chose to help others.
On April 30, Hailey-Dawn and her grandma delivered about 253 pounds of aluminum can tabs to Ronald McDonald House in Edmonton, which equates to about 250,000 tabs. When someone donates 20,000 tabs they are given an insulin pump, allowing for more independence. The pump evaluates your blood sugar and adjusts the insulin input and costs about $5,000.
“It is great to live in a community like this and to have so many strangers, friends and family come together to help,” said Mel Johnston, Hailey-Dawn’s grandfather who, along with Denise, live in Stettler. “This collection came from an area extending from Bonnyville to Drumheller, including a lot of local businesses.”
All the collected tabs, however, won’t help Hailey-Dawn with an insulin pump.
“In October, 2017, we found out her blood sugar wasn’t consistent enough to have a pump attached,” said Mel.
But this didn’t stop Hailey-Dawn, who lives in Fairview, from collecting the tabs.
“We have since given one family 60,000 tabs,” said Mel.
And her family is proud of Hailey-Dawn’s generosity.
“Oh big time!” said Mel.
Hailey-Dawn’s mom Nikki Zatko said her daughter, “chose to continue becasue the Ronald McDonald house helps provide safety and sanctuary to other sick kids and their families.”
She was delighted to help others.
“She is very sure that others in our community have benefited from Ronald McDonald House,” said Nikki. “I am so proud of her generosity and selflessness and the generosity of our communities.”