In 2017, we had the privilege of spending time with Evan, a local teenager living with periventricular leukomalacia and Type 1 diabetes. Because Evan is nonverbal, he can’t tell anyone when his blood sugar drops. His mom, Marilyn, was basically operating on zero sleep, constantly checking his levels around the clock to keep him safe.
The goal of this documentary short was simple: help the family raise funds for a specialized diabetic alert service dog that could detect chemical changes in Evan’s blood sugar and wake Marilyn up before a dangerous crash.
When you’re telling a story this personal, you have to leave the ego at the door. We kept the production incredibly low-key. No massive gear footprint, no loud crew—just a conscious effort to be as non-invasive as possible while capturing their daily routine, from morning prep to Tim Hortons runs. We just wanted to stay out of the way, observe, and let their genuine bond translate to the screen.
The family used the finished video as the emotional anchor for their fundraising campaign. And the best part? The community actually showed up. The campaign was a massive success, the funds were raised, and Evan got his dog. It remains a beautiful reminder of the tangible impact a simple, honest piece of video can have.
