A Mother's Perspective: Polishing Off Juvenile Diabetes

Our Family's Promise

Type 1 juvenile diabetes has always been a part of my life. My sister Lisa was diagnosed when she was just 9 years old. Like so many other type 1 diabetics, she has suffered through life-threatening complications. In 1998, after 22 years of facing this devastating disease, her kidneys failed and she desperately needed a double organ transplant to stay alive. The "angel" who saved her life happened to be a 6-year- old boy who had been the unfortunate victim of a fatal car accident. His family's courageous gift of organ donation gave her a new chance on life. She now has a working pancreas and kidney and is no longer diabetic. She does, however, face daily challenges of possible organ rejection and struggles with the emotions of how a precious little boy had to die to save her life.

While growing up, I struggled watching my sister try to live a "normal" life as a juvenile diabetic. I promised her that there would soon be a cure, and I would do what I could to help make that happen. While her life was filled with ambulance calls and hospital stays, mine was filled with skate-a-thons and bake sales. My efforts have continued even more since becoming an independent Silpada Designs Representative. Whether I'm spreading the word about Silpada's "Polishing Off Juvenile Diabetes" campaign or organizing jewelry events to benefit JDRF, I know that my individual efforts, no matter how small, are helping us move one step closer to a cure. What I didn't know was how soon these efforts would impact my own life, forever.

In June 2006, type 1 diabetes struck our family again. This time it happened to be my own diagnosis of "late blooming" type 1 diabetes. Since the majority of all cases are diagnosed at an early age, I truly believed I had escaped this devastating disease! My odds of becoming a type 1 diabetic at age 34 were only about 1%. Now, like all type 1 diabetics, my days consist of blood sugar testing, strict carb counting and numerous insulin injections to stay alive. My newfound friends have become endocrinologists, dieticians, diabetic educators and pharmacists. I know first-hand what life-threatening complications may lay ahead of me and frankly it's quite scary. I'm doing what I can to keep myself in control, although that can be challenging when my main focus is to be the "best" mom to our two boys, Logan and Luke ages 3 and 6. They don't quite understand what it means that mommy is a type 1 diabetic. They'll say I give lots of shots and I shouldn't eat ice cream drumsticks anymore! I wish it were that easy! I try not to show them my frustrations or tell them how serious this disease can be. Yet, I've had to teach them how to dial daddy at work and 911 in the case that mommy doesn't respond from too low of blood sugar levels. Although it touches my heart to hear them tell me they'll help daddy take care of me forever, I can't bear to have that burden put on them!

I have to admit it's been difficult for us to accept that I have this chronic autoimmune disease for the rest of my life until there is a cure. But life goes on and with the support of my husband, Jeff, family and friends I will continue to make the best of it! I refuse to let this disease bring me down and if anything I know something good will come out of it. I do know how lucky I am to have had 34 healthy years. There are so many children and adults who are much less fortunate. I worry about the day each of my two children may receive this same diagnosis! I'm thankful it's me and not them.

No one knows what the future will bring, but I'm eager to write the final chapter to this story. My children won't have to worry about becoming type 1 diabetics, and I will have escaped the life-threatening complications of heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage. This won't be by chance, but because we have found a cure. I wish this not only for my family, but also for millions of others who struggle daily with this disease. With everyone's support, researchers will soon find a cure. I know that each day brings us one step closer. There will soon be a cure. After all, that was my promise to my sister some 31 years ago and my family's new promise to me!