Team Sarah

Welcome to our JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes Team Page! For our third year, we are taking the steps to help achieve JDRF's mission: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. We are doing this in support of our youngest, Sarah.  Sarah was diagnosed with Type I diabetes in December of 2008, at the age of 4.

What we thought was going to end up being a routine ear infection turned into a day that flipped our lives over.  One of the tests showed that Sarah had diabetes.  It was caught so early that she didn't have any symptoms.  However, she was immediately hospitalized and our family was inundated with information on how to manage this disease and care for Sarah. 

Sarah will be insulin dependent for the rest of her life.  She has endure 6-8 fingerpricks daily to check her blood sugar.  She is not ready for the pump yet, it "freaks me out."  So, she has to get a minimum of 6-8 shots per day of insulin.  We constantly have to monitor what she eats, count carbohydrates and take activity levels into account to figure insulin doses.  We have to watch for low blood sugars and be extra vigilant with her disease if she gets ill--the list goes on and on.  Yet, through all of this, Sarah has been amazing. She is your typical 8 year old little girl.  She is smart, feisty, funny, silly and full of energy.  She enjoys school and loves playing with her siblings and friends.  She loves gymnastics and swimming, adores animals and frequently sings through the house, and is always up to the challenge of doing whatever her older brother and sister do.    And even though she handles all that comes with her disease and managing it, she has stated, "diabetes sucks."

The money our JDRF Walk Team raises will go directly to support life-changing research.  We are hoping that there will be a cure for this disease--hopefully, in Sarah's lifetime.  Because--diabetes sucks.

The JDRF Walk is a fantastic way to make a difference in the millions of lives of people affected by type 1 diabetes.  For at least that one day, they will look around and see all the support they have from their friends, family and community.  It amazes Sarah every year how many people come out to support all of those that have diabetes.   On Walk Day, everyone can have fun and celebrate how much closer to a cure we are because of their efforts.  It has become one of her favorite days of the year.

Each member of our team is already hard at work in their fundraising. If you have taken time to visit our team page today, we ask that you consider making a donation or joining our team.  To make a team donation, click on the "Donate" button at the top of this page or if you would like to make your gift to one of the team members please click on their name below.  To join our team, click the join team link below.

Thank you.  Together, we will cure type 1 diabetes and its complications! 

The Brandes Family--TEAM SARAH!!