Type 1 Diabetes

This is my son, Theo. In 2011, at age six, he was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes while we were traveling in Europe for his first time. Needless to say, it was the scariest, most confusing time for our family. Since then, our lives have changed in many positive ways. With one of the steepest learning curves we’ve ever experienced, my husband Ted and I have gathered information, listened intently, and fumbled through the process of caring for a child with high needs. What makes it especially difficult is that he appears so ‘normal’ to everyone else. Type 1 Diabetes (different from Type II) is an invisible disability, and often times people forget just how fragile and vulnerable our son is. 

Every day poses a new challenge. Since Theo is growing, this autoimmune disease never stays static. Now in his early twenties, Theo is a natural at calculating his carbohydrates at every meal and administering insulin through his pump to accommodate any situation. At age 7 he attended diabetic camp and on the 10th anniversary of his diagnosis, he was a counsellor at the camp. He has come a long way. We are optimistic that a cure will be found in the future.