American Diabetes Association: My Little Guy

My Little Guy
Wednesday, August 3, 2005
By: Lynnette Maher

My little guy

My son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 22 months.

My son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 22 months. His father was diagnosed at 11 months old and his uncle at age 15. Mark lost his dad a couple of years ago because of complications due to diabetes. Mark was watching tv a couple of weeks ago and he came running out of his room all excited. He told me that I had to call this 800 number because they found a cure for his diabetes. He said mom's and dad's are supposed to call. I tried to explain to him that it wasnt a cure but a walk for the cure. After many tears, his and mine, I finally made him understand what it all meant. Then his next question really got to me--"Why dont you walk mom and find me a cure?" I had to explain to him that a year ago mom had type 2 from being so overweight and I couldnt walk. My weight was to much on my knees. He said to me you arent that big no more and you dont have diabetes no more so why dont you walk. That was when my family decided we would be Mark's Guardian Angels and walk for him and the other millions of people out there that need our help. My son is a beautiful boy that has a huge heart. You wouldnt know he had anything if you met him. He is very energetic and just a lover of life and I want to keep him that way. This is why we are walking. We love you Mark and Mark and his big sister miss their dad a lot. IF there had been a cure out there already, maybe he would still be in there lives.