This is Owen. He's 6 years old and about to start 1st grade. He's one of the coolest, most imaginative, thoughtful and sweet kids we know. Two years ago, at age 4, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
What started out as a few simple questions of his pediatrician, ended with us taking Owen to the hospital with a blood sugar of over 600. A typical blood sugar, for a person without T1D, is 100. We took this picture just a few days before his diagnosis. He was becoming really skinny, pale, and lethargic. He stayed in the hospital for 2 days, while we learned how to give him insulin shots, test his blood sugar and count his carbs to ensure good blood sugars.
He now gets at least 4 shots a day of insulin, plus frequent blood sugar checks, and wears a Constant Glucose Monitor, which allow us to predict when his blood sugar is going to dip too low or climb too high. We count every carb that he eats, to accurately determine how much insulin he should receive at each meal. Going to school, having playdates, playing sports, eating out, and going on vacation are now much more challenging.
Despite all this, Owen has not allowed T1D to stop him from becoming the greatest kid we could ever dream of.
He's a wonderful big brother.
He finished kindergarten in the spring and...
... learned how to read.
He plays soccer and loves it. He mostly loves the running part. We think he'll be a track guy, like his daddy:-)
He loves Star Wars (he's Darth Vader) and Legos.
He has an incredible imagination, always pretending to be some sort of made-up good guy or bad guy, depending on his mood.
This year, we are assembling a team for the 2012 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. Our team will be called "Owen's Entourage." We whole-heartedly believe in the mission of the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Over 85% of monies donated to JDRF are used for research in the prevention, treatment and cure of T1D. They also have an active branch in many cities, providing outreach to families living with T1D. Our Colorado Springs branch throws a sugar-free Halloween party every year, which is one of the highlights of the year for Owen, and we have an active family support group which gives Owen a chance to meet other young kids in the area who are living with the disease.
We would like to extend the opportunity to you, our family and friends, to either join us on the walk, on September 8, 2012 or to donate to our team, "Owen's Entourage". The walk starts at America the Beautiful Park in Colorado Springs and is a 5K. Check-in time is 9:00am, on 9/8/12. If you are interested in joining us, please
click here. Then click on the "Register Now!" link and search for Owen's Entourage. The walk is really a fun time, with many activities for kiddos before and after the walk, and a catered lunch for all walkers. So, join us if you'd like! The more, the merrier!
If you are out-of-state, or just can't make it to the walk, please consider donating to our team. Normally, I feel uncomfortable in asking people to donate to a cause, but this particular cause is so near-and-dear to our hearts. Each year, approximately 15,000 children are diagnosed with this disease, and the incidence in children under age 14 is increasing by 3% each year. Every little bit helps in finding a cure for T1D. If you would like to make a donation, please
click here, and hit the "Donate Now" button and search for "Owen's Entourage". Josh, Owen, Wyatt and I are all trying to raise money this year, so we would all greatly appreciate any support:-)
Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story. Please feel free to join us at the walk, donate to our team, or contact me with any questions at
jbhobgood@gmail.com.
