JESSICA’S J-WALKERS
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION
WALK TO CURE DIABETES
OCTOBER 26, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
On Friday, December 27th, 2002, my parents and I took a trip to the pediatrician’s office. I was 10 ½. For the last week or so I had been drinking excessively, using the bathroom every 30 minutes-1 hour, and pretty much just lying around the house all day. At the doctor’s office, I had a urinalysis that showed the sugar content was 485 mg/dl, an extremely elevated reading. The doctor told my parents and me that I had type 1 (formerly known as juvenile) diabetes. We then arranged for an appointment the following day at a pediatric endocrinologist (a doctor of the glands and hormones of the body and their related disorders, one of which is diabetes). This doctor (named Dr. Geller) confirmed my pediatrician’s diagnosis. After he told us about diabetes and the treatment and care needed to keep it under control he informed us I would have to go to the hospital. I stayed at the hospital for 3 days and 3 nights, the first 24 hours of which was spent in a PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) hooked up to several monitors and two IVs. While at the hospital, I learned the specifics of diabetes care from such people as: a dietician, a diabetes educator, and several other doctors and specialists. Our education was just beginning! And so began my new life of frequent blood sugar testing, carb counting and 2-3 daily insulin shots.
The reason I’m sending you this letter is because I need your help to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has raised over $300m for research in just the last 3 years. Their goal is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through support of research. At least $.85 of each dollar raised goes directly to research.
Since my diagnosis, I have had over 500 insulin injections and over 1,200 finger pokes to test my blood. With continued dedication and research, a cure is within reach. But the research must continue and maybe I won’t have to live my whole life “with this devastating disease”. We recently learned of type 1 diabetics who are living insulin-free because of islet transplants. There have only been 250 of these operations in the entire world!
My parents and I are organizing a family walk team from our base of friends in Los Angeles. Our team goal is to raise over $10,000 for this walk taking place on Sunday, October 26 at Crescent Bay Park at Santa Monica Beach. We know that this is a huge goal, especially for a bunch of first-timers. But we also know how encouraging and supportive people have been and will continue to be for us and this cause.
The good news is that I have had success controlling my blood sugars and limiting my highs and lows. But it’s a continuing task that requires constant monitoring, adjustments and concern.
I know that these are tough times for a lot of people and I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter and show your support. Contributions to JDRF can be made in several ways. To contribute by check, please send your check to my address made out to “The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation”, or you can contribute by credit card on the web via secure server at http://walk.jdrf.org - search for Jessica Shapiro.
Better yet, be part of the experience and join our team “Jessica’s J-Walkers” for the walk at the Beach! To join the team, ask me for a booklet or go to http://walk.jdrf.org. It’s really easy and I’d love the support and the extra effort to reach our goal.
With warm regards and thanks again,
Jessica Shapiro (with a little help from Paul and Janice)
Info: shapirowalk"at"earthlink.net
JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION
WALK TO CURE DIABETES
OCTOBER 26, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
On Friday, December 27th, 2002, my parents and I took a trip to the pediatrician’s office. I was 10 ½. For the last week or so I had been drinking excessively, using the bathroom every 30 minutes-1 hour, and pretty much just lying around the house all day. At the doctor’s office, I had a urinalysis that showed the sugar content was 485 mg/dl, an extremely elevated reading. The doctor told my parents and me that I had type 1 (formerly known as juvenile) diabetes. We then arranged for an appointment the following day at a pediatric endocrinologist (a doctor of the glands and hormones of the body and their related disorders, one of which is diabetes). This doctor (named Dr. Geller) confirmed my pediatrician’s diagnosis. After he told us about diabetes and the treatment and care needed to keep it under control he informed us I would have to go to the hospital. I stayed at the hospital for 3 days and 3 nights, the first 24 hours of which was spent in a PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) hooked up to several monitors and two IVs. While at the hospital, I learned the specifics of diabetes care from such people as: a dietician, a diabetes educator, and several other doctors and specialists. Our education was just beginning! And so began my new life of frequent blood sugar testing, carb counting and 2-3 daily insulin shots.
The reason I’m sending you this letter is because I need your help to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) has raised over $300m for research in just the last 3 years. Their goal is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications through support of research. At least $.85 of each dollar raised goes directly to research.
Since my diagnosis, I have had over 500 insulin injections and over 1,200 finger pokes to test my blood. With continued dedication and research, a cure is within reach. But the research must continue and maybe I won’t have to live my whole life “with this devastating disease”. We recently learned of type 1 diabetics who are living insulin-free because of islet transplants. There have only been 250 of these operations in the entire world!
My parents and I are organizing a family walk team from our base of friends in Los Angeles. Our team goal is to raise over $10,000 for this walk taking place on Sunday, October 26 at Crescent Bay Park at Santa Monica Beach. We know that this is a huge goal, especially for a bunch of first-timers. But we also know how encouraging and supportive people have been and will continue to be for us and this cause.
The good news is that I have had success controlling my blood sugars and limiting my highs and lows. But it’s a continuing task that requires constant monitoring, adjustments and concern.
I know that these are tough times for a lot of people and I appreciate you taking the time to read this letter and show your support. Contributions to JDRF can be made in several ways. To contribute by check, please send your check to my address made out to “The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation”, or you can contribute by credit card on the web via secure server at http://walk.jdrf.org - search for Jessica Shapiro.
Better yet, be part of the experience and join our team “Jessica’s J-Walkers” for the walk at the Beach! To join the team, ask me for a booklet or go to http://walk.jdrf.org. It’s really easy and I’d love the support and the extra effort to reach our goal.
With warm regards and thanks again,
Jessica Shapiro (with a little help from Paul and Janice)
Info: shapirowalk"at"earthlink.net
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