Connor's Personal Page

Hi, I'm Connor.  I am 7 years old and in second grade at Seabreeze Elementary School.  I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 4 years old.  One year later during routine blood work, my tests came back positive for celiac disease.  I had to undergo an intestinal biopsy and on November 22, 2010, I had a confirmed diagnosis.

My life changed when I was 4 because I had to start receiving injections of insulin multiple times daily to keep me alive.  I also had to start checking my blood glucose by doing finger pricks anywhere from 8-12 times all throughout the day and night.  I was very upset when I came home from the hospital because of the injections but within a couple weeks, I no longer cried about them every time.  Sometimes, they do still really sting and hurt.  I got an insulin pump last October so I don't have to have injections all the time,  Basically, I have a small catheter inserted under my skin which delivers insulin through tubing from a pump.  I keep my pump in my pocket and it goes with me everywhere....I guess it's kind of like a part of my body...an important part I cannot live without but really wish that I could.

To me, the even harder diagnosis was my celiac disease and what that meant for me.  The first question I asked my mom driving home from Wolfson's Children's Hospital after my biopsy was if I was ever going to be able to have a Publix chocolate chip cookie from their bakery again and she sadly looked at me and said "no".  I can't eat at most restaurants, I can't have birthday cake, cupcakes or pizza at my friend's parties, and lots of other things to. 

It is hard to go on play dates, I haven't had a spend the night yet with any friends, and I carry a backpack full of diabetic supplies every where I go in case of an emergency.  I just want to feel like a normal kid. 

I know my parent's, brother, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and my entire family love me very much and would do anything to make this go away for me.  They all pray for me, try to help me feel comfortable, and help raise money and awareness about type 1 diabetes.  I also have some really special friends whose parents love me too and have offered to learn how to take care of me so I can have some play dates without my mom always around.  My teacher and nurse watch our for me really well at school and I feel safe with them.  My classmates help me carry my backpack and also know to tell the teacher if I am not feeling or acting right.

I do need your help because I believe in a cure.  We pray every day for a cure but in order to find one, we need to raise a lot of money to pay for research.  Someone has to figure out why this devastating disease is happening to people of all ages, including little babies, and how to avoid it's complications.  I want to grow up and have a car, go on dates, and maybe even get married if mom will let me.  I want my eyes, my kidneys, and my limbs.  I will make an awesome dad one day and want to be a veterinarian so I can help animals.

JDRF is the leader of the type 1 diabetes community and our best hope for a cure. Can you please help even if it's only $1 because every dollar counts.

Thank you for your support and for loving me.  GOD IS GOOD!

Connor

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