20,046 Needles

Once a year my son and take part in the JDRF Walk for A Cure for diabetes. And once a year I ask all my friends to please donate to this cause that is so near and dear to our hearts.



It's not easy to live with diabetes. Can you imagine being 7 and having to poke your finger with a needle 12 times a day? And then take shots? Since my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes almost 4 years ago, that is what he has had to do. That means he has poked his beautiful little fingers a total of 16,776 times to draw blood. And after that - for the first year - he took approx 8 shots a day. That's another 2920 needles sticking into your baby. After that, he got a pump (thank you, God!) and since then only needs one needle every 3 days for that, but that's still another 350 sticks with a needle.



Just think...That little baby that came into the world - 8 lbs, 21 inches, a bundle of joy - - and you have stuck needles in him 20,046 times - - in just FOUR YEARS.



Some people look in on their kids at night, smile, give them light kisses on the forehead and go peacefully to sleep themselves. When I look in on my son, it's to find out what his pancreas is doing - by pricking his finger and drawing blood. Often times i have to feed him when he is sleeping because his blood sugar level is too low. Other times I have to give him insulin. If it's a tumultuous night, I will end up staying up to check again (and again) until there is some stability. Every night we go through this same routine. He checks before he goes to sleep, I check before I go to sleep, I check again in the middle of the night and in the morning the routine goes on.



I tell you this because when this precious bundle came out of me, I thought there was nothing I couldn't do to protect him on his path through life, and it's just not like that. I can't change his pancreas, I can't make it work.



What I CAN do is raise funds each year for the organization I feel is doing the most to find a cure for this ailment and that organization is JDRF. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation works relentlessly to raise funds to find a cure for diabetes. There are many possible solutions being worked on. It is even thinkable that in his lifetime, my son might be able to witness one of those - - because of organizations like JDRF.



So - this year as we walk around the balloon fiesta park, please send us your prayers for a cure, and if you are able, please contribute to our walk fundraising goal of $300. No donation large or small is inappropriate when you think about those little fingers getting pricked with needles 20,046 times and this precious boy who wants to live a normal life.



Thank you!



With much love and many blessings.

- Darshan Frances Jessop



How to give:

Please visit my Walk Web page if you would like to donate online: http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=87840863