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The Green Family Story
In June of 2005 our family's life changed forever! At the age of 8, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was not a huge shock to us since a year before he was diagnosed they told us he was borderline diabetic.
Our hopes of him not developing diabetes were shattered. So now here we are learning how to draw and give insulin shots, check his blood sugar 4 to 6 times a day, checking for keytones and measuring everything he eats. Getting up in the middle of the night cause his blood sugar needs to be checked, or because he's vomiting, waiting for the doctor to call at 2 AM, or a trip to to ER for IV fluids. Just a common illness can be hard on his little body, so when he's sick we have to take extra care of him.
Life has gotten a little easier since he started using an insulin pump, but that is only a treatment not cure. He often says to me that he just wants to be "normal". I hate hearing him say that What is normal anyway? Well to an 11 year old boy it's being able to eat without having to check his blood sugar and getting insulin. It's being able to just go over to a friends out without having to have someone who knows how to take care of you by your side, it's not having to make several trips to the school office throughout the day.
This year we are participating in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Traverse City. Jacob has been so excited about raising money to find a cure. He had a bake sale at his grandmas garage sale and raised $50.00 in one day! We have spare change jars at various locations in our town and have already rolled $145.00 in coins! His teacher is doing a diabetes awareness week at school and all the kids in his class are bringing in spare change. She told them if they raise $50.00 she would buy them all Dairy Queen! So far our walk team has raised $1855.90! I would love to raise $5,000.00 or more.
It is my responsibility to help find a cure for this terrible disease. I pledge to do this walk every year until the find a cure!
Heather Green & Family
