Cathleen’s son, Jack, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at age 7.  As Jack became a teenager, they began looking for opportunities to connect with the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community and soon found JDRF. Over the past two years, Cathleen has been a wonderful volunteer partner with the One Walk program. She knows how important it is to make connections, share knowledge, experience, and support families as they navigate through this journey. She is so passionate about giving back to the organization that has impacted her family and sharing her passion with other families in the community.

 

What is your T1D story?

My son, Jack, was 7 years old when he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  I was familiar with the signs because my uncle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 7, which was in 1943, and I had heard the stories.  We picked up a glucose test kit from the pharmacy. That one test would forever change our lives.  We took Jack to Jersey Shore where we spent the next 3 days in T1D boot camp with Nurse Deb and Dr. Eapen.  We are so grateful for them, and they became part of our forever growing team of support.

 

How did you get connected to JDRF?

JDRF became part of our support team also.  Jack and I started volunteering at the walks behind the registration table.  I checked people in and Jack handed out t-shirts.  We had a lot of fun and we connected with a community of people with knowledge, experiences and information they were happy to share.  We thought we were there just to volunteer our time for a good cause, but found that we got a whole more back in return.

 

You also helped Jack with leading a Kid’s Walk at his school. Tell us about that.

Jack is a Boy Scout, which tends to take him out of his comfort zone more than he likes to admit.  As a Boy Scout it is important that he continues to take on as many leadership roles as possible.  John and I suggested he approach the principal with the idea of doing a T1D Kids Walk at school.  She was very receptive to the idea and gave Jack the green light.  This was a great way of spreading awareness to his fellow students.  The principal, teachers, staff and especially the school nurse had become part of our support team.  They had all been briefed by the nurse, but the students he had known since he started at the school in kindergarten had not.  Thanks to Stacy DiArchangel, they all knew the difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, what a carbohydrate is, blood sugar levels and the fact that it is not contagious.  It was a fun day and celebration while spreading awareness and raising some funds for further research.

 

You were a Family Team Coach last year and this year you are the Family Team Champion for the JDRF One Walk. Explain a little about what you do in this role.

As we were wrapping up the Kid’s Walk, Stacy asked me to become part of the Family Team Coach Group.  Of course I said yes.  I was happy to be asked and happy to contribute in any small way I could.  It was a good experience to reach out to these families and then connect with them on walk day.  Everyone has a story and everyone is happy to share that story.  If I can get one more family to sign up and participate in a walk this year, maybe next year I can encourage 2 families.  It is all about small progress towards making life for our loved ones look a little less like someone with type 1 diabetes and maybe someday life completely without T1D.

 

What made you stay involved with JDRF?

What motivates me to continue volunteering my time to JDRF is the increasing number of newly diagnosed people every single day.  I’m also involved to give back to an organization that has given my family and others like us so much in the way of advancements in the technology that makes the management of diabetes a little easier.  We are grateful for the research, advocacy, and support system JDRF provides.

 

How has JDRF impacted your life?

JDRF has impacted our lives in the Callinan family by providing the manpower and community to fight for the rights of people who need expensive insulin and need insulin pumps that work for them and not a specific pump that the insurance company deems suitable.  JDRF has impacted our lives by fundraising year after year in order to improve the technology that keeps our T1D kid healthy and ensures that he will have a life expectancy just like anyone else.  JDRF has impacted our lives by telling the world they will one day find a cure.

 

What advice would you give to someone just newly diagnosed?

The advice that I had given to a mom of a newly diagnosed high school student was that everything was going to be OK.  I told her that her son was going to live a life like any other teen.  I do recall how devastating the news was when we were told our son had type 1 diabetes.  My best advice would be to take it one day at a time, figure out what works best for you and your son as far as managing blood sugar levels, and reach out to JDRF, as it has been an invaluable resource for us.

 

What does a cure mean to you (and Jack)?

A cure for type 1 diabetes would definitely mean a good night sleep for me and my husband.  It would mean less stress in our lives, less worry, and a whole lot of happiness for us and for the million plus other families with loved ones who have type 1 diabetes.

I asked Jack what a cure would mean to him.  Before I tell you his answer I do want to say that type 1 diabetes has made, not only Jack, but our entire family a lot more disciplined when it comes to eating and exercising.  Not to say we do not enjoy our desserts.  Diabetes has made us a lot more aware of what happens to blood sugar levels when you eat pepperoni pizza or simply just eat out.  Even when you think the meal you ordered is a fairly healthy meal, Jack’s blood sugar levels will sky rocket for an extended period of time.  We also see how regular exercise keeps his blood sugar in check.  It makes us non-diabetics realize how hard our body is working when you feed it the wrong things.  Anyway, his answer was something about being happy, Five Guys and Chick-fil-a.

To be honest, I don’t think he remembers what it was like to live a life without type 1 diabetes.

 

Join Cathleen at OneWalk this year by registering for your nearest One Walk today.