The Utah Chapter of the JDRF is excited to highlight our amazing "Chapter Kids!" Please check back with us often to meet and be inspired by their stories and insights regarding daily life with diabetes.
Sydney was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes on February25, 2008 at the age of 4.Although thediagnosis was hard, Sydneyhasnt let diabetes control her life. She is the same little girl she wasbefore diagnosis just with more worries now. She learned how to check her bloodsugar on her own shortly after diagnosis and has been an advocate for herdisease. She walked with JDRF last year and Team Sydney raised $3,000 toward acure.She plans to do the same thisyear. Working with JDRF gives Sydneythe opportunity to fight back against diabetes and is one more way she cancontrol diabetes and not let diabetes control her.
Eightmonths into her diagnosis Sydneyreceived her coveted purple pump and named it Daisy. Sydney can give herself a bolus and islearning all the intricate details that involve caring for her diseaseincluding learning about carbohydrates and how many carbs are in her favoritefoods. It took a while but she is starting to let other people learn how tochange her infusion sets.She used toget nervous when people would ask what her site was but she said she knows shecan teach people about her disease if she wont get nervous, now she will tellother people about Type 1 diabetes when they ask. She has become a great littleactivist for diabetes.
Sheis excited to start kindergarten this fall but is a little nervous about howthe kids will react to her medical needs and what will happen when she gets lowat school but she is excited just the same. She is very eager to learn how toread so she can read stories to her little sister, Morgan.Sydneyloves to swing on the swings and go down the slide. Her favorite thing to do issing. At a young age she is already a talented singer.Her favorite cartoon is Olivia and her favorite movie is Monsters versus Aliens. Her favorite food is strawberries and herfavorite treats are sugar cookies.
Likemost Type 1 kids, she gets down at times because of her diabetes and all thepokes required to maintain her disease but she is a very optimistic little girlwho just wants to see the end to her diabeteswe all do.Life has thrown her an interesting challengebut she is determined to overcome it.With the help of JDRF and all the wonderful families that help raisemoney each year, one day Sydneywill be able to take a permanent vacation from her diabetes. Until that daycomes, Sydneywill keep fighting back and help raise awareness about her disease. She is abrave little girl and her family is so proud of her. Team Sydney is Walking in the Idaho Falls Walk on September 12th. Syd's mom, Shamae, has created a fantastic video to help people understand the struggles Sydney deals with on a daily basis. You can view the video HERE. Can you imagine how greatthe day will be when all parents can say that their child used to have Type 1diabetes!
"Insulin is like being on life support. Please support the JDRF because children with diabetes deserve a cure!"
With your help, we are moving research from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside, translating scientific advances into longer, healthier lives for those with diabetes. With your help, we are moving closer to our goal ... a cure for diabetes and its complications.
