I won’t usually repost a blog, but Ryleigh is very ill today. Please pray for her and her family.
I hate diabetes. There, I said it out loud. And I mean it. Particularly Juvenile Diabetes, but the disease in general makes me want to scream. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States. Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. In 2010 about 215,000 people younger than age 20 had diabetes type 1 or type 2 in the United States*.
My 10 year old granddaughter is one of them.
Ryleigh was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in July of 2007 at the age of 6. It has meant a totally new “normal” for her and her family; 24 hour levels monitoring, diet adjustments, finger pricks, injections and multiple trips to the emergency room. Our daughter Kem and her husband Paul are a great team and have handled this new challenged with amazing strength and endurance. I have watched them with admiration as they teach Ryleigh how to manage her disease while learning at the same time. They are blessed with an amazing team of doctors at Dell Children’s Hosptial in Austin who have supported them and encouraged them as they navigate these new waters.
Juvenile Diabetes has stolen some of Ryleigh’s childhood. When she was first diagnosed she had to take up to 8 injections a day just to keep her insulin levels in line. She is fortunate that she can now utilize an insulin pump, which drips small amounts of insulin into the body at regular intervals. This keeps her blood sugar steadier, eliminating some of the “highs” and “lows”. It’s a great tool, but it comes with limitations. It has to be removed before swimming or bathing, and making sure the “pump site” is inserted correctly is always a concern. And it is not a permanent solution.
Every day brings new challenges. And every day the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International is waging war against this disease. They are making progress toward a cure, but they need our help. On Sunday, October 30th we were able to join Ryleigh and her friends to participate in the “walk for a cure” for Juvenile Diabetes. We would appreciate your support, prayerfully and financially. We can make a difference. For Ryleigh. For the thousands of children with diabetes. And for their future.
For more information on the JDRF Walk for a Cure: http://www.jdrf.org/walktocure
Taking Joy in this Journey,
Lori
*This
information is from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, 2011. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/statistics
Just this week I was reflecting on my sister and her cause. Know I cheer you on as you support your granddaugther and hers!