Our Story
Type 1 Diabetes (otherwise known as Juvenile Diabetes) is an unwelcome but a
very large part of our family’s life. Peter was diagnosed with this relentless disease in October 1996. Eight years later our middle child Maggie was diagnosed at the young age of eight and within only one month our eldest daughter Hope was diagnosed at the age of 10. All three require daily doses of insulin to stay alive.
The long and short-term effects of this disease can be devastating...and life threatening. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, loss of limbs and an early death. To effectively manage this disease Peter, Hope and Maggie need to regularly (seven-nine times daily) stick their fingers with needles to check their blood glucose levels. This means; when they wake, before each meal or snack; before, during and after any physical activities (soccer, softball, golf, swimming, gym class, and recess at school); before bed and often in the middle of the night. It’s relentless and stressful. Over the last few years Hope and Maggie, while shedding an occasional frustrated tear, have accepted all of the challenges presented by this disease with courage and determination that is beyond their years. They’re expecting a cure and truly believe that this will not be the way they spend the rest of their lives. It is our job as their parents to provide the opportunity for their dreams to come true as best we can.
While Type 1 Diabetes has become part of our daily routine we will not let it keep us from living full and productive lives. The saying in our home is “When life hands you lemons make lemonade.”
With this spirit, in 2006 we established The Lemonade Foundation, a non-profit (501(c) (3))organization to raise awareness of the impact of Type 1 Diabetes and to fund diabetes research and education with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
We welcome your support as we move closer to a cure,