Hi, My name is Liz and I am 10 years old. I want to be a biologist when I grow up. I like to draw and play games. I am like every other kid except that I have Type 1 Diabetes.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on July 15, 2009 when I was put in the hospital for ketoacidosis. It was a very scary time for my family and I. I felt alone and like God didn't love me anymore. I asked, "Why did this happen to me?" and "Will I ever get to eat the things I want to?". I was afraid of the complications that people say diabetics get like amputated feet, blindness, seizures, etc. I got confusing information about diabetes because most people don't understand that type 1 is very different from type 2. Although diet & exercise can help, there is NO cure for this. I will have to test my blood sugar nearly 6-10 times a day and I will have to take insulin for everything I eat, for the rest of my life.
Most of all, I was alone because I didn't know anyone else with my kind of diabetes... until I went to Camp Seale Harris & Camp Sugar Falls last summer.
Going to camp I got to meet other kids who live with this disease just like I do! They have the same feelings I do & go through the same pains I do. It was wonderful not to be alone with this or to have to explain or hide my treatment, because everyone at camp knows & understands what this is like. At camp we are able to participate in activities that will help us learn how to LIVE with diabetes; how to manage our symptoms and treat ourselves. We got to ride horses, canoe, hike trails, go down a water slide, swim, ride an intertube, etc just like any other non-diabetic camper! Coordinated by the southeast diabetes education service, camp has diabetic counselors & medical staff who help us control our blood sugar levels. They teach us how to LIVE with diabetes. The camp counselors also have type 1 diabetes so I get to see that if I manage my blood sugars and make healthy choices, I CAN do anything I had dreamed of before I became diabetic!
I want to go back this summer! I also want to help other children who have never been to diabetes camp get to go too. Please help me achieve this goal by donating to Southeastern Diabetes Education Services. Donations are tax deductible & donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. Donations may also be made to sponsor me (Liz Schiller) by contacting:
SOUTHEASTERN DIABETES EDUCATION SERVICES
500 CHASE PARK SOUTH, SUITE 104 HOOVER, AL 35244
PHONE: 205-402-0415 FAX: 205-402-0416
info@southeasterndiabetes.org
www.southeasterndiabetes.org/index.htm
All funds will go to help children who could not otherwise attend a diabetes training program. Please, don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to help children live with diabetes while waiting for a cure too!
Thank you so much for visiting my fundraising site & especially for giving me your support.