It’s been ten years since our son Griffin was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and this May will be the 10th anniversary of being honored at the 2003 JDRF Promise Ball and getting involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Hard to believe 10 years have passed and Griffin has gone from a 2 and a half year old diaper wearing toddler (see side picture) to a 5 foot tall 7th grader who has quite a few opinions.
Our original campaign 10 years ago was “a one time ask”. .
Okay we’ve asked more than once, but look at what your generosity has accomplished. Look where we are – artificial pancreas, beta cell encapsulation and regeneration – research breakthroughs that seemed reserved for the lab only are being tested on humans; 4 clinical trials in 2002 and over 50 human clinical trials today. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is now a common diabetes product covered by insurance.
Griffin has had over 40,000 finger sticks. Thousands of insulin infusion set changes (and it’s a big needle). Any illness is a threat to Griffin as type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder and it affects his entire body.
Despite research advances, Griffin has additional autoimmune diseases that often occur with type 1 diabetes. He was diagnosed with celiac disease, he has thyroid antibodies that predict future thyroid disease and heart disease remains a likely risk factor that could start to appear as early as his 20s. Diabetes takes an awful toll on the body and JDRF funds research to help treat and prevent theses complications….but they need your help as well as ours.
We are asking again…
Here are some of the ways we have shared our experience with Diabetes with our friends.......
Please donate what you can to help us find a CURE and prevent future children from getting this disease.
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HERE to see Griffin terminate Diabetron!
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HERE to see Griffin when he was newly diagnosed.