Heidi's Personal Page

Dear Family & Friends, 

It's that time of year again!  We are getting ready for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk to Cure Diabetes.  With your support, we hope that children with diabetes will be able to enjoy normal lives.

     Children like my 14 year old son away from home Dylan and adults like Dennis with Type I diabetes are insulin-dependant for life:  they will not outgrow Type I diabetes.  People with diabetes and their families are in a constant struggle to manage blood-sugar levels with six or more daily finger pricks to test blood, at least two shots of insulin a day, or using an insulin pump which delivers a constant stream of insulin via a cannula inserted under the skin which stays in place for up to three days.  There is also the constant monitoring of exercise and food intake.  This is not a cure - it only allows the person with diabetes to stay alive and enjoy the lifestyle many of us take for granted!

     In addition to the burden of managing the disease and an average life span shortened by 7-10 years, diabetes carries the life-long threat of other devastating complications such as kidney failure, blindness, amputation, heart attack, and stroke.  Thanks to the continuous generosity of family and friends like you, we're making great strides toward a cure. 

   I am actually walking with two teams again this year.  As always, I am part of Dylan's Dinosaurs which is the family team for my best friend's son who was diagnosed at age 7.  This year, I am again team captain of Mauer's Eye Care Team.  We have been fundraising through activities at work and a Shopping Extravaganza that was held the first weekend in December.  I am very proud of the accomplishments of our philanthropy committee, but I am more proud of the way Dylan & Dennis go through each day dealing with this disease and the ways it complicates their lives as though it is no big deal.  Not being diabetic, I can't fully comprehend what it is to have to manage it, but being as close as I am to two special people with diabetes I can say they amaze me daily.

     Last year the Cedar Valley walk raised over $100,000.  We plan to exceed that total this year with your help.  More than 85 percent of JDFR's expenditures support research and research-related education, earning an A rating for efficiency from the American Institute of Philanthropy. There is exciting research being done to help make Dennis and Dylan's lives easier.  We're so close, we can't stop now!   I hope we can count on you.  Thank you so much in advance for your generosity.

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