Cris' Personal Page

My wife Rose made a promise to our daughter, Bess when she was diagnosed with T1Diabetes the day after her 4th birthday.  Bess is 18 now.  Rose promised to do all she could to help find a cure.  Rose cant keep that promise this year.  A brain tumor took her life last November 9th.  Rose gave me 4 things I had to do after she died.  One was to continue to raise funds to help find a cure.  So after a 6 year break I am again riding to help raise funds to find a cure.  Asking for money sucks.  So I will have her help me.  Here is an excerpt from a letter Rose sent out 6 years ago.

Mommy, I just want to be free. It was one of the bad days when Catherine spoke those words while sobbing on Mommys shoulder.  It was just one of those days when she becomes overwhelmed with sadness because of her disease.  One of those days when she wants to know why God chose her to carry this burden. She wants to be free of the over 15,000 finger pokes to test her blood sugar she has endured since being diagnosed at age four.  She wants to be free of the insulin injections which total over 7,000 since her diagnoses; the 5 or more daily injections keep her alive until a cure can be found.  She wants to be a normal 11 (18) year old and enjoy a carefree childhood as any child deserves. 

This one is from 2008:  Everyday living with Diabetes as a kid? Well...it sucks. Theres no other way to put it.  It just really, really sucks.  Its a childhood with unending interruptions, pain and emotional exhaustion.  Imagine not being able to put anything in your mouth to eat; not even grabbing an apple or having a bowl of cereal without the tedious process of taking a blood sugar reading.  It involves...unzipping a pouch...popping a container of test strips open...inserting a test strip into a meter...poking a finger with a lancet...squeezing out a drop of blood...putting the blood on the test strip...waiting a few seconds for the meter to read the blood sugar level...disposing of the strip...zipping up the pouch...putting the kit away...and then administering the insulin. It takes about 1 minute each time. Bess repeats this 5 or more times a day...calculated out she spends nearly 31 hours a year simply taking her blood sugar reading. Sucks...dont you think?

And from 2010: So heres the sobering wake-up call no parent or child should have to endure, but its the one motivating us to keep going until there is a cure for Type One Diabetes. A few months ago while Besss classmates at Eastside Catholic High School were on break Bess, now 15 years old, was in the hospital in critical condition. In the 11 years since Bess was diagnosed we have had a 24/7 battle on our hands including a fair share of seizures and ambulance rides, but this episode was terrifyingly different.  She was gravely ill from ketoacidosis; a condition caused by uncontrolled high blood sugars that can quickly turn fatal. She is extremely lucky to be alive is how her doctor described the episode. The hospital stay caused Bess a great deal of physical and emotional pain that has taken months to subside. Prior to the scare I was considering taking a breather from fundraising for JDRF and giving my body a break from the training it takes to get ready for a 100 mile ride. But the reality is Bess never gets a breather and her body never gets a break. Her body does not produce its own insulin. Insulin controls blood sugar levels.  Each day is constant work and worry to achieve good blood sugar levels, which literally fluctuate hour to hour and minute to minute in a growing teenager. 

These are amazing words.  I have some more words for you.  I have an Insurance fund from Rose. 

I will match any donation I receive, that means your donation will be doubled.  (Update:  I can't match anymore, I'm out of money, you're all to generious.)

I know many have already given at Roses funeral and for her ride in September around Lake Tahoe, where she did 12 miles.  I fully planned on giving some money on my own.  But what a great treat to have your donation doubled!  That would thrill her.  So please give what you can to help find a cure to this stinking disease and wish me luck.  The Nashville ride is not for novices.

Thank you for your support!
Cris Wisner

Did you know that:

• T1D is an autoimmune disease that comes on suddenly and strikes both children and adults at any age?
• T1D has nothing to do with diet or lifestyle?
• Those living with T1D must carefully balance insulin doses with eating and daily activities throughout the day and night?
• Those living with T1D must test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood 6 or more times a day?

As the leader of the type 1 diabetes community, JDRF unifies global efforts to cure, treat and prevent T1D.  JDRF will not rest until T1D is fully conquered.  Won't you please give to JDRF as generously as possible?

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