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Read on for "Lauren's Story":

Frightening, overwhelming, and helplessness

are what I can imagine when parents hear that

their child is diagnosed with diabetes.  Well,

 that's what I thought until I met a determined

mother whose daughter was diagnosed with

Type 1 Diabetes when  she was only 2 1/2

years old.  Her determination and positive

attitude set the stage for this inspirational

story!  If you would like to contact her, you

can send your email to me:

[email protected]

& I will forward it to her.  She is willing to

 help other families understand  the

emotions, treatment and most importantly,

knowledge that it will get better!

LAUREN AND MOMMY.  Picture taken for the

Diabetes Research institute.  Lauren was 2 1/2.

"THE SWEET LIFE OF LAUREN"

On November 20, 2008, our world turned

upside down.   Our youngest child, our

daughter Lauren, who was 2 1/2 was

diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  Amazingly

this was one day after she had a perfect

doctor's checkup!  Crazy was an understatement!

Like many of you, I have a story of how diabetes

disrupted my family's life, but only for a short time.

Let me explain why.....I remember the fear and

uncertainty that gripped me the moment we

learned of our daughter Lauren's diagnosis.  I

could have never imagined checking a two

year olds blood sugar, let alone giving her an

injection every few hours.  It tore at my heart

every time I had to tell her that it was time for

another shot.  With each injection,  something

happened in those first few days in the hospital

when I knew this disease wasn't going to affect us.

Lauren took each shot like a big girl and actually

thanked me for giving it to her.  It was amazing

to witness and the nurses were amazed by her too.

Everyone around her said, "This has got to be the

strongest little girl I have ever seen."

LAUREN AND HER BROTHER JOSH,  November 2008,

right after her diagnosis.

Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes is not a part time

condition; it's a life long challenge.   I knew that

I would do whatever it took to keep my daughter

healthy, but I needed to remain positive!!  The

road ahead was going to be difficult and I knew

that my positive attitude could pave the way for

my daughter and for our entire family.  So that

week that we spent in the hospital learning about

diabetes and how to care for her, we made up

a motto that we live by every single day.
   
            "LEARN IT, LIVE IT, LOVE IT"

That is exactly what we do with diabetes!!!!

We do it with a smile!  As a family, we never

let diabetes get in our way!  Lauren has two

older brothers, Adam and Josh, who have been

so amazing through everything and learned

also that Lauren can do everything they can and

everyone gets treated equally.  I am confident

since taking a negative situation and making it

into a positive one we have created "a positive

environment for Lauren and our family."




My husband and I confronted the situation head

on AS A TEAM!!!  We educated ourselves and

 learned as much as we could about diabetes.

The more we learned, the more confident we

both felt.  Before long, we were prepared to do

everything possible to make LAUREN'S life easier.

That meant finding the best medical care and

the best insulin pump.  We would stop at nothing

to make our daughter's life with diabetes as

NORMAL as possible.  Lauren is doing amazing

and she knows that if we eat a healthy diet, there

is plenty of room for a "four year old's" junk food!

There is nothing denied and because we have a

smart balance of both,  Lauren is happy and

healthy!

Lauren with her brothers, Adam and Josh.

LAUREN with her insulin pump 10 months after

diagnosis.