my pump gear

Dear Superintendant

my pump gear — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:56:28 GMT

April 28, 2008

Dear Superintendent,

It has come to my attention that our district will be losing one nurse after Nurse #3 retires at the end of this school year. There are no plans to replace her. Is that correct? I have also been informed that there will be possible cuts made to our Health Aide hours at each school site. Is that correct? I clearly understand that districts are having to make budget cuts in the coming months. However, this is certainly NOT the place to do it.

Our family has 3 students attending G. M. Elementary school. We have had at least one student there for the past six years. Our youngest is in kindergarten this year. She loves it! She has Type 1 Diabetes and is on an insulin pump. If you know anything about Type 1 Diabetes, you will understand how fearful we were for her school years to begin.

Each day is a struggle to balance her blood sugar levels. She comes up against this disease every minute of every hour of every day. It is "life or death" every day. Ask any parent of a Type 1 child--I am not exaggerating. If her levels are too high (hyperglycemia), she can become severely ill very quickly, as her body develops ketones (toxins) that shove her into a state of nausea and deleria and can place her in the hospital. These are the times when the wheel of diabetic complications begin turning--renal failure, eye problems, neuropathy. If her levels are too low (hypoglycemia), she is in danger of seizures, coma and death. The lows are the immediate danger. It can happen rapidly. Sometimes, she can feel her numbers dropping; sometimes it can happen without warning.

My daughter sees the nurse and/or health aide several times a day...sometimes, so do I! We can't put her diabetes on a schedule, as much as I'd like to. Sometimes, her numbers have no rhyme or reason. If she doesn't feel right, she needs to be checked immediately. To say the least, she needs the nurse or health aide on campus at all times. If the Health Aide's time is cut by one hour, can we cut my daughter's diabetes one hour? Of course not!

It has taken many months for our family to feel comfortable about leaving our daughter at school. We need to know that she is being cared for every second. I know she is not the only child in need of medical care throughout the day. I know that there are 11 students in the district with Type 1 diabetes, not to mention many others with serious conditions which need daily care at school. I also know there are a total of 10,000 + students in total enrollment in the district--all at the risk of needing medical attention, without warning.

Thank you so very much for understanding and deciding NOT to cut any personnel with regards to the life and health of these students.

Sincerely,

Type 1 Mom

Raise Your Voice! - Today is Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Day

my pump gear — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:41:37 GMT

                                                                April 14, 2008 - Type 1 Diabetes Day

                                                                                  (thanks, Kerri!) http://www.sixuntilme.com

Today is special to us here at my pump gear...it's type 1 diabetes Awareness Day. We weren't sure what to do to raise awareness...we are quite new to the blogosphere. We are including a video that was sent to us a while back that is touching and conveys educating people regarding this disease. Our #1 hope: We want a cure! Second to that, we want people to understand type 1 diabetes and how it affects so many people, not only individuals but families. Please take a few moments to watch and learn something new today...thanks!

...And So We Begin...

my pump gear — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:50:27 GMT

It is official, my pump gear has entered the blogosphere!! This is new territory for most of us...so please bear with us!

Let's first decide the intention of this blog.....

To be clear, my pump gear wants a CURE for type 1 diabetes!!! We have been immensely affected by this disease, like so many of you. It is of most importance that we work toward a cure. That is why portions of our proceeds go to organizations dedicated to finding that cure. These include such groups as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. These two places have helped to lift us out of the darkness that this diagnosis brings.

So... #1 is...find a cure...

We believe, at present, an insulin pump is by far the best thing out there to help people gain better control over diabetes. And, kids are our passion! Kids need all the help they can get to live successfully with diabetes. That was the starting point for our company. If they have to live with this device, let's at least make it functional and fashionable! However, we would much rather find a CURE!

With that being written, the clear intention of this blog will surround our #1 hope...find a cure!

We, at my pump gear will use this blog to bring awareness, opportunity and hope in finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Until there's a cure,