When my
daughter was diagnosed with T1D, our family got a lot bigger; we became part of
the JDRF family. What gives me great hope for a better life and eventually,
a cure for my daughter, is that so many people share this hope for their loved
ones, too.  

Our voices
have been powerful tools in ensuring funding through the federally funded Special Diabetes Program that currently
provides $150 million a year for type 1 research. But this research
is not just about ensuring a healthy future for people with type 1. It’s
also about a healthy and better life now with improved therapies and
tools. The Special Diabetes
Program will soon be up for renewal and if we don’t work hard—by speaking up
about the importance of this program, we will permanently lose this funding.

So, I’d
like to introduce you to Jasmine, a member of our JDRF family who is smart,
creative, funny and has type 1 diabetes. She has been a very active
advocate who has emailed, phoned, and visited with her legislators telling them
why funding research for type 1 is important. Below, she describes what research means to her and what
motivates her:

“I am motivated by *me*. It seems a little, well, less
noble than the others here who are working so hard for their children to live
better lives, but I want a better life, too. I’ve never known adulthood–
driving, working, and just daily life– without diabetes. I want to be
able to feel all of my toes. I want to know I’ll never lose them, or my
kidneys, or my eyes. I want to know that the kids in my life who love me
can count on me into their adulthood. I want my parents to be confident that they won’t outlive me, and not
have to worry that they’ll watch me deteriorate or die. I want to know
that I can be free in the world and financially secure because I won’t have a
very expensive, extremely time-consuming disease following me around
everywhere. I want no other kid, ever, to have to live with the burdens
and fears I face. I am also motivated
by the one bright spot this disease has provided me, the friendship of other
people in the type 1 community. One day we can all have a big
party, knowing that we are free of this disease; a party with cake.” 

We look
forward to hearing from Jasmine as she embarks on her newest adventure:
traveling to New Zealand. Safe travels, Jasmine. Your JDRF family will
keep striving to make that “party with cake” a reality.  And we know that
with a phone or an Internet connection handy, we can count on you to make your
voice heard by responding to JDRF’s calls to action to renew the Special
Diabetes Program in the weeks and months ahead!

What would you have at your party? Let me know in the comments below…

Camille
JDRF Advocacy