eat. pray. bolus.

It's been a little over a week since our JDRF Walk.  I wish that time would just slow down a bit.  Really.  There is so much going on all around us...I wish we could absorb more of it.  Anyway, let's get back to the walk, shall we?...
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On Sunday, November 7th, C headed up her first walk team ever!  For the past however-many-years, we have joined a couple different teams.  But this year, C made it clear that she was ready to take on the task of forming her own team and putting in the effort to raise funds.  So, how could we say "no" to that??

And, so, C's Pack formed.  Family joined.  Friends joined.  Friends of friends joined.  Relatives of friends joined.  All-in-all, her team ended up being over 60 people strong!  Donations started rolling in from distant relatives and from some we've only met online!  It truly amazed us!  Her team efforts resulted in donations totaling over $2,600.


What touched us even more than the financial generosity was the participation...the actual walkers who showed up to support her and the others we know that deal with diabetes every single day.  To say the least, it sparked a fire in her, I believe!  What encouragement she (we) felt to see her little friends walking up and down the hills of Dodger Stadium...


It was a terrific day.  And, maybe even a little education was given to bring more awareness to the disease.  We handed out a paper with lots of myth-busting information regarding diabetes.  We just felt that the turn-out for C's Pack was so tremendous, we wanted everyone to go home with a better sense of why we were going to such effort to raise money.


Here's a look back on the day...a terrific one!

60 + strong!

Self-explanatory.

 

 

Heading up her own team.

Friends made it special!

eat. pray. bolus.  Our shirts were a hit!

Supportive friends.

Every time we're there, I think I'll take a picture of this...World Diabetes Day, you know!

 If you'd like to see the entire photo album, come join us on our Facebook page!

A Walk to Remember.

Saturday.

We walked.  We met friends.  We smiled and laughed.  We ate.  We listened.  We celebrated.  We also sweated a whole lot!!  (Southern California had immense humidity last week!)

We walked in the Ontario, California JDRF walk to cure diabetes for the 5th year with team Kids That Care.  Our faithful teachers came out to support the team once again.  The team is headed up by our friend, K, who does so much for the cause.  She was also recently appointed junior board member for the Inland Empire chapter.  We're proud of her and proud to walk on her team!

K's mom, K and C

Kids That Care

We met friends...some, for the first time.  You couldn't miss them!  They were the largest team out there...all in black...ready to battle diabetes...Team Ninjabetic!

George had put the word out to the DOC (diabetes online community) to join the team, raise money, and celebrate...20 years to the day of his type 1 diagnosis.  He put the invite out there.  And, they came.  Boy, did they ever!  I'm not certain of the final count, but probably 12-15 of George's fellow PWDs either drove or flew cross country to walk on his team.  His team totaled over 60 people in all.

Look who we found! The Ninjabetic & Mr. Scott Johnson

Cheering Team Ninjabetic!

After the walk, we headed over to George's celebration.  I don't think I'm going to do this thing justice in writing about it.  I was quite overwhelmed.  What support and love was in that room!  We ate and talked and made real life connections with people.  

Near the end of the party, George had prepared a presentation of sorts.  Really it was his story...with diabetes.  It was a glimpse deeper into his life.  A new D mom friend and I talked as we both observed all that was going on around us.  "These people are inspirational to me," she said.  Yes.  Do these people even realize how they inspire us parents of type 1s?  They welcome us into their circle and let us see that our kids can have wonderful, full lives.  And as Sara told me:  "and that we grow up and do just fine and have fun!"  

What a celebration!

So of course, George, being the ninja that he is, included all PWDs there that day.  He invited them to stand and introduce themselves along with the number of years each has lived with diabetes...little C included. He sang his song, Not By Choice.  I had intended on taking more pictures.  But I was quite lost in the moment.  I sat there with husband and new D mom-friend and C next to me.  Thankfully, it was recorded.  You can click here to watch and listen, courtesy of Sara.

George sang his song, Not By Choice.

D Mom Emily, me & Mr. Scott Johnson

Thanks George, for including us in your celebration!

Walkin'

 Tomorrow is the 1st of 2 JDRF walks we will be participating in this fall.  We have walked in this one for the past 5 years.  Always, we have bee welcomed warmly onto the Kids That Care team, headed up by our friend K.  They were the first type 1 family we met, way back when...

This particular walk is super fun and family-oriented.  Kids are even encouraged to bring their dogs...which reminds me of the year we went to the walk with 1 dog and came home with 2.  (Don't ask.)

However, this year's walk has an extra special twist.  We will meet and walk with the Kids That Care team, as usual.  The special treat will come after the walk is over.

A friend from the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) will be there, walking with quite the awesome "Team Ninjabetic."  We've been invited, along with many other DOC'ers, to a wonderful celebration afterwards.  You see, George, the Ninjabetic, is celebrating his 20th diaversary...that's 20 years of living with diabetes.  Celebrating, you ask?  Yes!  Here is a clear example of  looking through positive glasses at a life with diabetes.  There is so much to celebrate!  This is what helps us stay encouraged and strong in our fight against diabetes...people like George.

In addition to meeting the Ninjabetic in person, we will also have the opportunity to "meet" many other DOC'ers.  I'm looking forward to being among so many others who understand our situation with diabetes, completely.  On a day-to-day basis, C stands very alone with this disease.  Not tomorrow.  It should be an awesome time!

I wonder if there will be bacon?

THINK BLUE!

Do you think World Diabetes Day can borrow this slogan, Dodgers?

We had a great day at the JDRF Walk at Dodgers Stadium last Sunday! 

We were invited to walk with team "Beat the Betes," headed up by a family we've been friends with for several years now.  We know them through Little League Baseball.  The father has coached our oldest son and his own youngest son for several years now on a travel team.  So, the love of baseball, of course is a common denominator for both families.  But, there is another commonality.  Their oldest son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 3 years ago at the age of 15.  Both C and he started out with the same endocrinologist.  He quickly moved from injections to an insulin pump...just like C.  We've had lots of diabetes conversations with them.  But, I think, the great thing is that there's a lot more to their son than his diabetes.  So not every conversation between our families mentions it.  We talk lots of baseball.  We hear of their oldest son's water polo experiences and plans for college next year.  Type 1 has not been given permission to hold this kid back!

So, on Sunday, we felt honored to be included on his team.  C's name was included on the team's shirts.  It could have been all about him that day, but he gladly included us.  The team was invited back to a relative's house after the walk for a wonderful meal and time just to relax.  C had an excellent time talking with all the teenage girls and hanging out on the trampoline with them.

It was a special day.  You can see the rest of the pictures on our Facebook page:  http://tinyurl.com/ygel3ef

Oh, a little sidenote: Sugar Ray Leonard cut the ribbon at the beginning of the walk. And while wandering around, my husband and 2 sons went right up to his limo and shook his hand. (No camera, darn.)

Our JDRF Walk

Our 2009 Team, "Kids That Care"

What a great day!  Good weather.  Good food.  Great friends.  And loving support!  On Saturday, October 3, 2009, we participated in the Inland Empire's JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes.  It was held at Guasti Regional Park in Ontario, California.

For the past couple years, we have been a part of a team, Kids That Care, which was formed by Kaitlyn M.  You may remember her from our recent interview with Kaitlyn.  She and her family warmly welcomed us onto their team.

This year several of C's little friends joined in the effort.  It was heart-warming to see their enthusiasm and support for something so close to our hearts.  I think C really felt appreciative and excited that they were there to walk with us!

Then, there's the teacher support that was given.  We have a great staff at the kids' elementary school.  They really go out of their way to get to know the complete kid!  We have felt tremendous support over the years.  Some have come out to sporting events.  A large group offered their support and encouragement for our family at a breast cancer walk after my treatment.  And, every year at the JDRF walk, there they are.  This year, the entire 2nd grade team showed up, smiling, hugging and ready to do the 5K.  How special is that for our little C?!!  As a bonus, our favorite kindergarten teacher (all three of our kids were in her class) came out to the walk again, as she has done each year since Kaitlyn had her for kindergarten 8 years ago!  They are special people.

It was a great time of raising funds and raising awareness.  Friends, family and teachers helped make it so. 

"Kids That Care"

Each year, Kaitlyn M (13) has organized and run a fundraiser benefitting the Inland Empire chapter of the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Coming up on September 26, 2009 Kaitlyn will be taking on the task once again. She will set up the Craft, Cookie and Lemonade Stand at her house.  Donations will be raised for her walk team, "Kids That Care."  You see, Kaitlyn is your typical teenager. She attends middle school, hangs out with her friends and plays softball. However, she does all these things with the added challenge of type 1 diabetes.

Kaitlyn and friend at last year's walk.

mpg: When were you first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?

KM:  October 14, 1998, I was 2 1/2.

mpg: What do you remember from the early time of your diagnosis?

KM:  I was scared and always needed my band-aids.

mpg: Everyone is always curious about the symptoms. What were some of the things happening with you that led your parents to notice something just wasn't quite right?

KM:  I was constantly going to the restroom and was always thirsty. I had the flu and we think that triggered it.

mpg: Briefly, what is your daily routine in managing your diabetes?

KM:  7:00am- Wake up, test and bolus for breakfast.

          8:30- Go to school, drop off test kit at nurses office.

          10:45 (2nd Period)- Test and bolus for snack/

           12:50pm (4th Period)- Test and bolus for lunch.

           4:00- Go home, test and bolus for afternoon snack.

            6:30- Test and bolus for dinner.

            Days over! 9:30 (Bedtime)- Test and write down numbers for the day.

mpg: What do you wish people would understand about diabetes?

KM:  It is not contagious, we occasionally have sugary foods and most importantly we are normal people, we just have to watch what we eat and test our blood sugar.


mpg: What is your biggest challenge in dealing with this disease?

KM:  Not being able to eat all the candy with my friends, I don't have the same freedom as everyone else in general.


mpg: What would you tell a friend who has been newly diagnosed?

KM:  Hang in there, it's a pain, and if you need me I'll be there.

mpg: What made you want to start fundraising for the JDRF?

KM:  I don't like this disease, whatsoever, and we need a cure and JDRF helps fund research to find the cure we most definitely need.


mpg: Describe what people will find when they come out to your fundraiser.

KM:  They will find crafts, cookies, and ice cold lemonade. My friends and family will be there helping and supporting me and I will guarantee they will leave with a smile on their face!

Kaitlyn and some of her team, Kids That Care.

If you are in or around the Southern California area this Saturday - September 26th, come on by!  Leave a comment and my pump gear will contact you via email with specific location and times for the Craft, Cookie & Lemonade Stand.

The Inland Empire's JDRF Walk is coming up on Saturday, October 3, 2009.  If you're in the area you may want to join the team.  Come on out to and help support this great cause. Together we can make a difference! If you'd like to join in the walk or simply make a direct donation to the JDRF, simply go to their website and follow the link to donate. http://www.jdrf.org/. Don't forget to mention "Kids That Care!"  Thank you!!