Juvenile Diabetes: The Walk For The Cure
This weekend is the Western Carolina Walk for the Cure for Juvenile Diabetes. Our son Seth is 13, and has been diabetic since age five. The Walk is one of our favorite yearly events. More than that, the idea of a cure is one of our favorite dreams!
Seth has come a long way. He wears an insulin pump, and is now wearing a continuous glucose monitoring system. His chances of long-term complications, such as blindness or renal failure, are remarkably low compared to what kids faced in past decades.
His physician, Dr. James Amrhein of the Greenville Hospital System, is outstanding. He and his outstanding nurse practitioners brought us through the shock and trials of diabetes with great compassion and understanding. He offered us that precious commodity: Hope.
But diabetes is still hard. Fingersticks still hurt. The continuous monitoring system needle is like a dagger in the belly, whenever Seth inserts it.
Seth is an incredible young man who plays the bagpipes, the banjo and the harp. He loves working at blacksmithing. He laughs, hugs and tells his siblings he loves them (despite the fact that it annoys them). He is a Godly, kind young man and an absolutely voracious reader. He is practically an expert in Greek and Norse mythology.
Who knows what this remarkable kid will do one day? He says he wants to be an anesthesiologist, “so people won’t hurt.” He wants to study genetic diseases. He reads journal articles on consciousness, language and persuasion. The world is wide open for a man of his talents and his love of service. But we need to keep him healthy so he can accomplish his dreams, and find his calling.
Please pass the word and let’s help fight for a cure. If you can donate, we’d appreciate it. We know it’s a tough time and a tough economy, so every gift is precious.
If you can’t, just add a cure for diabetes to your prayer list. We’d love a miracle, we’ll take a new therapy. We just want to get rid of this annoying, potentially life-threatening disease. For Seth and all the other awesome kids out there.
Yours,
Edwin
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
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