What are little diabetic boys made of?
Written By Ricky and Debi

Picture 2000

Picture 2006

Picture 2006

What are little boys made of?
what are little boys made of?
Frogs and snails and puppy dogs' tail's
That is what little boys are made of.
Then you get a thing they call Diabetes
You learn to say no to candy when the teacher at
school comes out to meet us
That is when you're made of bottoms up
For daily injections then you have finger sticks and such
This disease is not silly but can throw you for a dilly
life is treasured to all your family
so that is when you learn today because of blood sugars no candy
Blood sugars are high water you must consume
So for dessert you can have ice cream by the big spoon
You learn to live day to day
So mom can yell "Be like the other kids go out and play"
Diabetes is only part of what makes me a great me
But watch out world one day president I can be

Hi my name is Ricky and I am now 15 years old.
My mom and I are doing this page to let others know that it is ok to be different.
I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes April 8 1998.
I would like for you to take a few minutes of your time to read about me (and so many other kids in the world) who have juvenile diabetes yet no one knows how to stop this disease.

THIS IS HOW MY LIFE GOES EACH DAY
My day begins at 5:30 every morning, no sleeping in for mom or me. The first thing I do is prick my finger and do a blood sugar test with a meter to check and see if my blood sugar level is where my doctor wants them to be for me. I have breakfast by 6:30 after breakfast I get a shot, and off to school. I get to school and sometimes I have to recheck at 9:00 and if my numbers arent ok then a snack at 9:00, then another finger stick at 11:00 and lunch then a shot, then another finger stick at 2:00 so I can find out if I can play in PE or not. If my numbers are not high enough I have a snack at 2:00 then recheck it before I get on the bus for the hour bus ride home. Dinner is usually by 5:00 after another finger stick and another shot, then another shot and snack at 8:00 if my numbers are not ok but if they are ok then it is off to bed by 9:00.

I have to eat at specific times because the insulin is timed to "peak" at certain times of the day. My fingers do get sore because I have to get it stuck at least 6 times a day (and that is if I bleed the first time I'm stuck) and that is on a good day. I get shots in my arms, belly, legs and bottom. Since diagnosed I have had to have at least 36,500 sharp objects entered into me weather it be injections or finger sticks and that isn't counting extras, like the weeks I was in the different hospitals because of prolonged highs or to many lows. I have even gotten an infection in two of my fingers where I could not even use them to pick up a pencil they were swollen and full of infection.

As you can see that even though I do have a daily routine, insulin is not a cure but it is to help keep me alive so that I may be like other "healthy" kids my age. If I do run and play harder than usual I risk having low blood sugar. This can cause a possibility of convulsions which is life threatening and harmful to my brain development. I can also get sick from high blood sugar and that can cause possibilities of a diabetic coma. Which I have already experienced both of these already. Since diagnosis I have had so many highs and lows that the doctors don't even know how to fix it or how to handle it.

When I catch a cold, illness or even the normal kids stuff (chicken pox, poison ivy etc.) we must be even more careful so I don't end up in the hospital. For even these can be dangerous. Even with my added diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Defisit Hyperactivity Disorder) if I dont take my medication for it I can get crazy readings and then I am on the roller coaster of ups and downs again.
As I grow up with this disease I face the possibility of blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage or amputation of my arms or legs and yes even cancers (so no having cancer isn't better than this now is it?) These are just to name a few complications that may occur. It is really tough for my family and those that I know for they all need to know what to do if I go into shock or get sick.

Those with this disease will continue to live with a daily routine like this unless researchers can find a cure. There have been some breakthroughs but nothing can help me right now we can just take each day as it comes and keep going on. They feel they are on their way to discovering a cure, but it does take money to help those that will come behind me with this disease.

ALL OF US DREAM OF A CURE AND BEING "NORMAL KIDS" Ricky has told me time and time again that God helps him with this everyday just so he can tell others that it is ok to be different and to want the same kind of lives other kids have.

STATISTICS TO ASTOUND -- We also found that there are more diseases in the USA that get help of one type or another from State or Federal moneys that can be cured, but yet our children sit by the way side and wait for someone to care enough to say "Ok enough is enough lets help them live their lives to". Today kids with quite a few diffrent diseases or problems can't get health care like "normal" kids. And the worst part is "our" kids can't get life insurance until they are "so old" or "you are stable" or "you have lessening problems" (these are just a few reasons I personally have heard explained to me why I can't get my son life insurance).

SUPPORT TO LIVE-- Please all we are asking is that all that see this page help us to bring to the attention of the State and House of Representatives that moneys are needed for research and help for our kids. Lets get real this is not just going away there are more and more children with this every day that are dying but yet who is taking notice-- the families that have to love their children then watch them fall apart health wise.

IT IS TIME TO STAND UP AND FIGHT!
However, we can not do it alone we need alot of folks to send emails (or send the email to me and we will forward it to them for you), letters, calls and visits to their chosen Representatives.
Please help us to help our kids be like the other kid in class!!!!!

^{MOMS NOTES}
Well we are now in Wisconsin and Ricky was on a pump when we came but then they found out that he was having insulin obsorbtion problems so back to multi injections are where were at now.However we are looking into the pump now since it has been about a year since being taken off of it. I have gotten to where I am letting Ricky do alot of his care because I am trying to teach him that this is (even though it does effect the whole family) his disease and he will have to live with it for the rest of his life. Lets face it mom wont always be there to do a check or shot. So no better time then now to let him take over. He has gotten alot of great things out of our move though. Not only has he found a great team of doctors but he now has a bunch of friends and family. He even has stayed over night with a friend (yes mom let go of the strings you probably didnt think I ever would huh).I have even let him stay over more then once. I also let him go to camp this summer (although he was a bit upset because it wasnt a diabetic camp so they had to keep him close to camp for checks etc so he couldnt go on the camp out and was a bit upset bout that. We are now awaiting school to start and this year should be interesting he will be going into the 9th grade. High school here we come (fingers crossed not sure if I am more freaked or he is bout goin to a bigger building. So keep us in your prayers. Will update more later so check often. Thanks and remember contact your friends and get involved with JDRF

Please hug your child today weather sick or not and tell them how much you love them and to thank them for being in your life. Take care and God Bless.