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Drake Parker's essay on dealing with juvenile diabetes Hello, my name is Drake Parker. I am nine years old and I live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was two years old. My prayer before I go to bed every night is that there will be a cure for diabetes one day. My parents tell me to not lose hope, and to remember that in my lifetime there will be a cure. I would love to have a normal life. A life where I can eat what I want, play football without all the finger pricks, not have an insulin pump attached to me 24 hours a day, not being scared of the highs and lows, not hearing about someone dying from complications from diabetes, and most of all spend the night at all my friends houses. Most of my friends have sleepovers now for their birthday parties. Because most of my low blood sugar readings take place at night, I usually don't get to spend the night with my friends. This year I was finally able to spend the night with one friend. My best friend Jordan and his mom learned all they could about Type 1 diabetes just so I could spend the night with Jordan. They spent a few days with my mom, the school nurse and discussing diabetes with me just so I could spend the night at their house. Jordan is the best friend any guy could ask for. ADVERTISEMENT As I mentioned before, because my worst lows seem to happen at night I am always frightened that I will go to sleep and not wake up. People tell me I'm too young to worry about that, but I still do. I started sleeping in my own room just a few months ago after I went to Tennessee Camp for Diabetic Children (TCDC). I always liked sleeping in my big brother's room because he made me feel safe that someone would be able to hear me if I drop in the night. It's scary to be low and asleep. I can feel myself dropping, but for some reason my mouth won't move to yell out for help. It's like looking at your self from the outside. Crazy, I know, but if you experienced it, you would be scared too. My mom and dad discuss with me the reason that Stem cell research is so important. It's not only important to me but to people with other diseases as well. I have met my Congressman Bart Gordon a couple times and he is always really nice and tells me he wants me to be cured from diabetes. This last time I met him I had on my Adam Morrison - Gonzaga jersey and he wanted to know where he could get one. Congressman Gordon said he liked Adam Morrison, so Congressman Gordon is ok in my book. I can't understand why Congressmen vote against helping kids like myself. If any non-diabetic person had to live with diabetes just one day, and if they had a really bad low or a really high sugar, I bet all would vote in favor of research for a cure. Also, my parents let me know how expensive things are (like my insulin pump and test strips) just so I take care of all my supplies. Wouldn't everyone benefit from not having to put money into diabetes management? My mom and dad are really great about helping me spread diabetes awareness in my community. My mom every year comes and speaks at my class about Juvenile Diabetes. My mom makes it to where kids don't make fun of me or the other students that have diabetes. They end up understanding that diabetes is not something contagious. My mom was on the Walk Committee for Rutherford County (local JDRF walk) for three years and our family team (Drake's Diabetes Destroyers) each year raises money. At my football banquet last year my coach commended me for being able to be the starting quarterback, 2nd lead scorer, and never missing a snap or play. He told everyone he was skeptical about me being able to hold such a key position on the team and being diabetic, but I proved him wrong. That was pretty impressive considering the coach was my dad. He knew about all my highs and lows so he thought I would definitely require a backup, but I didn't. I knew then, that I didn't let diabetes control me, I controlled diabetes. I was also on a travel basketball team this past year. I really admire Adam Morrison. Basketball is one of the most trying sports on my blood sugar. There is so much running that I will sometimes have to check my blood sugar twelve times in just one game! My coach and I had a sign that we use if I'm feeling low. I'll make an "L" out of my fingers and place them on my chest. That way my coach knows to have a juice waiting for me when he swapped me out. My coaches tell me I'm going to be one of those kids who help encourage others to do anything you want and not let diabetes get in the way. That would be cool to be a role model for other diabetic kids. My teacher tells me I'll be a politician or a lobbyist for diabetes reform. Whatever I end up doing in my life I know that I want to be a part of helping find a cure for diabetes. Like my mom always tells me, " If everyone makes waves, we'll one day create our own ocean to wipe out diabetes." I know the more I tell people about my disease the more they will support the research for a cure. Then I can spend the night at ALL my friends' houses. That would be great! So please vote for diabetes research, and "promise to remember me" when you vote. Thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn