Fundraising for JDRF--our letter

Dear Friends and Family,

Hey it's that time of year again--a time when we share our struggles with you in hopes that it will compel you to support our walk team Harrison and Harley's Hope for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes on September 24th. It has been nearly 8 years since Harrison (14) and Harley (19) were diagnosed with Type 1 (or insulin-dependent) diabetes--a diagnosis and constant companion. You can't take a pill for Type 1 diabetes and it can't be controlled with diet--only injected insulin.

In writing this letter, I was trying to come up with words to describe diabetes--somehow terrible just didn't cut it for a disease that strikes children. Abhorrent, atrocious, awful, beastly, contemptible? Not bad enough for a disease that forces children to inject insulin into their bodies as a source of life support. Despicable, foul, grim, grody, loathsome, lousy, odious? Nope, still not rotten enough to describe a disease that forces children to contemplate their own mortality. No word describes a disease that takes away a child's sense that all is well in the world--although take the above words and add sleazy, stinking, vile and wretched and it's a start.

Harrison and Harley hardly ever complain about having diabetes. If they did complain, you might know that several times a week, they have a low blood sugar or a high blood sugar that makes them sick--sometimes it's a headache, sometimes it's nausea and vomiting and sometimes it's a feeling of being too tired to do anything (enjoyable or not). You would know that it's next to impossible under the best circumstances to control Type 1 diabetes. Stress, excitement, anxiety and fear all affect it. If they're nervous about a ball game, excited about Christmas or worried about a test, they'll have a high that doesn't have anything to do with what they ate or how much insulin they just shot into their bodies. You would know how overwhelming and depressing it can be to understand the ever-present threat of losing your sight, your limbs or your internal organs and feeling helpless to avoid these (seemingly inevitable) complications.

You would know that everyone, especially little sis, is scared every time Harrison doesn't hop right out of bed in the morning. As she was filling her cereal bowl a few weeks ago, little sis watched Harrison fall to the floor. He was confused and incoherent. In trying to get up, he kept falling backwards hitting his head against the linoleum while she ran upstairs to say, "MOM COME DOWNSTAIRS FAST!!!" I couldn't get him to stop flailing his arms in order for him to drink so big bro held him upright with his arms down until he drank enough juice to rouse him. It was terrifying, to say the least. The worst part is that we all knew what was happening from experience. Oh yeah, you'd also know that diabetes complications can happen no matter what. With perfect control and not-so-perfect control diabetes or its complications can kill.

There are a few ways you can help but let's be honest they all include money. We have a walk team called Harrison and Harley's Hope. We would love for you to come walk with us on Saturday, September 24th at Scera Park in Orem. Being on our walk team and donating or raising money allows you to support Harrison and Harley in finding a cure for the disease they live with and will live with until a cure is found. The walk is a family event complete with lunch and games and activities for the kids--ALL FREE. All that we ask is that you make a donation--as large or as small as you wish ($25 would be a great start, though;) Go here to make a donation. To be part of our team, let us know by emailing laughfunnyha@yahoo.com.

Thanks for your support!!!

Love,
Harrison and Harley
(along with R, L,
H, H, H & H)