I am not teenager anymore however, it doesn't take raging hormones to know that this is a reason to Smile. In many ways, Jessica is your typical 12-year-old. However, in many other ways she is exceptional.
Here are just a few of Jessica's achievements.
* Jessica has a 4.7 (ish) GPA at Gilbert Jr. last quarter
* Served as the youth ambassador the 2008 Step Out For Diabetes
* Is this Gilbert's Citizen of the Month & with have the honor of meeting the mayor.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, last month she met, LIVE, IN PERSON, The Jonas Brothers!!! Does it get any cooler then that?
As amazing as these accomplished are, not one of them would be possible if her mother, Cathy didn't wake her up at least once in the night to poke her finger, check her blood sugar levels and administer insulin as needed. In a typical day, Jessica requires a minimum of 6-8 insulin shots for her body to function.
Every time Jessica eats, her mother must calculate how many carbohydrates are in the food she's eating & administer insulin, (aka give her a shot). All of this is necessary to stabilize her blood sugar.
Eating 3 meals a day isn't really an option either. "Just in case," Jessica must carry snacks all of the time. If her blood sugar drops super low, she will become seriously ill.
Cathy, is a close friend of mine, and I want you to know she is amazing!
In addition to taking care of her family, she spends countless hours fund raising for the American Diabetes Association, home schooling her 4 daughters and taking them to dance classes.
Her second oldest daughter, Allison, is also a gifted dancer. Last summer, she qualified to compete on a cruise and won 1st & Gold for the duet dance she performed.
Yes, I think it's fair to say that Cathy has given all of us many reasons to Smile!
2 comments:
wow. that is an amazing story. It makes me grateful for the good things in my life, and helps me to not take it for granted. :)
She is a very sweet girl. I could tell the boys had a great bond with her.
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