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Haley's story: On December 22,2000, as my child was whisked away from a hospital in an ambulance and lay dying in the ICU at a different hospital, I was told by doctors that she might not survive the night. You see, my little 5 year old was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I had no idea it was deadly. I thought, "Please just fix her and send her home to me". I was in shock and kept falling down to my knees over the trauma of it all. I thought the ordeal would be over if she just lived through the Diabetic Ketoacidosis. How wrong I was. This condition is for LIFE. Our lives have never been the same since that day. I knew no one with Type 1 diabetes and nothing about the condition. As I struggled to give my child 6 to 7 shots per day and learn how to balance insulin with carbohydrate counting, I felt so isolated and so did my child. Diabetes robbed her of the spontaneity of youth. It seemed nobody understood what it was like to have to "revive" your beloved child from severe low blood sugars or watch them throw up from high blood sugars. Nobody understood my fatigue at work from having to get up every single night of my life to check my daughter's blood sugars to make sure she doesn't pass away in the night. Can you imagine living like this? The entire experience was horrifying and there was no end in sight.
Paige's story: Dear God! Tragedy struck us twice. On October 10, 2010, my sweet little 2 year old began drinking water in the middle of the night. The next morning I had a sick feeling in my stomach about it. I decided to check her blood sugar and it was 189! I begged the heavens to make it not true! I immediately took her urgent care and explained that I may have a new type 1 diabetic. Ofcourse, I was desperately hoping that the meter was wrong. Upon arrival, Paige's blood sugar had jumped to a 336! That was it, I grabbed the nurse and started screaming and crying, "NOOOOOO!" "NOT AGAIN!" I couldn't stand up for some reason and I only remember that my knees gave way and people put me on a chair. Paige cries and tells us, "I hate you" and "you are so mean" when we have to give her shots. It breaks my heart everyday.
There was something that changed my perspective and my ability to cope with such devastation within my family: Diabetes camps.
The Diabetic Youth Foundation (DYF) has made a huge difference in my life and the lives of thousands of children, teens and families affected by diabetes. During their programs participants receive the latest information on proper diabetes management. We also receive updates on diabetes technology and advances in research.
Most importantly, we meet others affected by diabetes and who share our same life experiences. DYF's endless encouragement, life saving diabetes education and loving care has inspired me to turn the challenges of living with diabetes into opportunities of a lifetime! Please join me in supporting this wonderful organization by making a donation today. Your support will help many more children, teens and families benefit from DYF's outstanding programs, including their Bearskin Meadow Camp!
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to make a contribution to our fundraising efforts. For more information about the Diabetic Youth Foundation please check out their website at www.dyf.org Until then, many thanks for your support, your friendship and your encouragement. Your gift will help to improve the lives of thousands of children and teens living with diabetes today and for those yet to come.
Thank you!