Dear friends -
In
August 2002, our lives became overwhelmingly different from what we ever
imagined. Two-year old Grace got the flu, and she never got “better”; she
developed Type 1 diabetes. Now, Grace is
eleven and doesn’t really remember what life was like before diabetes. So, we
are asking you to help make Grace’s life overwhelmingly different from what
she’s ever known by helping JDRF to find a cure for T1D.Every year, we
participate in the JDRF Walk for the Cure and ask for your support. This year,
we would like to ask you to donate not only thinking of her, but of our whole
family…all of our lives will be joyfully different when there is a cure. We are
so excited about the prospect….
When there is a cure
for Type I diabetes, we will celebrate!
We will celebrate not writing a letter asking for
donations every year! Maybe we will send timely Christmas cards? J
We will celebrate more sleep! No more blood sugar
checks at midnight and 2 a.m.! (And at least 5 other times a day.)
We will celebrate not worrying about diabetes
complications later in Grace’s life! This disease will not take her eyes, her
heart or her life.
We will celebrate the extra shelf in our fridge
and extra cabinet space! No more diabetes supplies to store.
We will celebrate the one step less in preparing
for school each year! No letters for teachers. No emergency supply kit. No
doctor orders or IEP meetings. No careful planning for all field trips.
We will celebrate freedom from diabetes issues at
sleepovers! No worrying about what Grace is eating. No middle of the night
calls to go change a pump site.
We will celebrate no more scars! Grace’s fingers,
tummy and bottom will be free to heal.
We will celebrate Grace being able to follow her
dreams and go to whatever kind of camp interests her without fears of adequate
diabetes care! Marine biology anyone?
We will celebrate hiring a babysitter without
having special training first! And celebrate not wanting to have a sitter for
as long as Grace lives with us!
We will celebrate not counting carbs for every
thing Grace eats! No wondering if we guessed right for that piece of sushi.
We will celebrate no extra worries when Grace is
sick! The flu will be the flu, not laden with the threat of going to the
hospital.
We will celebrate no longer having a glucagon pen
and worrying that we will have to use it! That emergency will never happen.
We will celebrate Grace never feeling
self-conscious with her peers about having diabetes! Things that make Grace
different will not include a chronic disease.
We will celebrate life without constant fear! No
worry about whether Grace will wake up in the morning.
Our biggest reason to celebrate will be having the
biggest worry in our lives gone forever. (Yes, we know there will always be
something else, but no more diabetes!!)
When there is a cure,
we will celebrate. We will have a party and invite all of you.
JDRF is the leader in
funding the search for a cure. By donating to JDRF, you are helping make an
overwhelming difference in Grace’s life and ours. If you have donated year
after year, thank you. If you have received our letter year after year and have
had reservations about donating for whatever reason, we ask you to please consider
again this year. If this is your first
year receiving our letter, thank you for being dear enough for us to ask. Any
donation to JDRF is not only finding a cure, it is supporting our family – it
is looking forward to that joyfully overwhelming difference with us.
Thank you for your
consideration. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We look forward to a
grand celebration.
With hope - Monique,
Mike, Grace and Claire
