Advocacy

Have I mentioned before how much we LOVE the kids’ endocrinologist?! I’m guessing yes, since I’ll take any chance I can get to sing his praises. He’s absolutely wonderful with the kids, he respects and listens to us and considers our experience just as significant as his expertise, and he sees each visit as a chance to learn more and work together to help the kids feel their best.

Every visit he likes to encourage the kids to try something new, whether it be diabetes related or not. A couple visits ago the kids agreed to try their site in a new spot on their body; Ollie ventured to the arm, while Walker has added her upper leg to the rotation. This last visit Walker told Dr. Alonso that she would like to be more active in diabetes advocacy. The second we left his office she signed up to become a youth advocate for the Children’s Diabetes Foundation. This means that she is involved in PR work, helping kids who are newly diagnosed, and eventually speaking at functions where she can educate and bring awareness to Type 1 Diabetes. She’s only done a couple events since she signed up in September, but she’s excited to do more.

Today she had the opportunity to skip school and go to the Barbara Davis Center for the celebration and proclamation of World Diabetes Day. She met with other T1D kids, spoke with Dana Davis, and listened to a researcher discuss current work being funded by CDF to find a cure. She was poised in front of cameras and adults, and I was in awe of the confidence of this sweet little girl.

Events like this fill her with a sense of pride. She always walks away standing a bit taller than when she arrived. She loves the feeling that she’s doing for others, and is naive to the ways she’s being changed by it all. I’d say she can skip all the school she wants for an education like this.