Sotomayor's Diabetes: Will It Be a Handicap?

As President Obama's first nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor approaches the bench with a number of firsts. If she is confirmed to the lifelong post, as is widely expected, Sotomayor would be the first Hispanic to sit on the high court, and she would also be the first Justice with Type 1 diabetes...
Once known as juvenile diabetes, Type 1 diabetes typically begins in childhood — Sotomayor was diagnosed at age 8 — eventually causing the body to slow production of insulin, the hormone necessary to break down sugars found in food. While it is not yet clear what causes Type 1 diabetes, some experts believe that a patient's own immune system starts to attack insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, ultimately leading to a drop-off in hormone production.
Without enough naturally produced insulin, Type 1 diabetes patients must rely on an artificial source; some patients wear insulin pumps, which are permanently inserted under the skin to deliver a dose of the hormone after each meal or snack, while others self-administer regular insulin injections to sustain normal levels throughout the day.
The proper management of blood-sugar levels, say experts, can keep many diabetes-related complications at bay. The more successful a patient is at maintaining consistently normal blood-sugar levels, the more likely she will be able to avoid damage to the heart, kidney or other organs.
"In the days leading up to this nomination, there were several media reports suggesting that Judge Sotomayor should not be considered for this position simply because she has Type 1 diabetes," said Dr. R. Paul Robertson, president of the American Diabetes Association, in a statement following Sotomayor's nomination. "The advancements in the management of Type 1 diabetes have been just amazing over the last two decades, and the ability of people to manage their diabetes successfully has been proven. People with diabetes can function and live a long and healthy life."

So, to answer the question, NO - it will NOT be a handicap. But let's hope it raises Type I awareness to FIND A CURE!!

One Year...

It's one year today that Jillian has been diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. What a year it has been-it hardly seems like a year. I know I have said it before, and I will probably repeat myself a thousand times, but I am in awe of my daughter. 4 Daily blood sugar checks, sometimes a 5th one in the middle of the night; 2 injections every morning and sometimes one before lunch and/or dinner. All this and she is still one of the happiest 2 year olds I have ever known.

She'll push the plunger on her syringe now, once inserted into her skin, to inject her insulin and she'll also do the same on her lancing device to check her sugar. She is amazing.

**Jillian, we love you so much. We are so proud of you. Your strength and courage, happiness and smiles keep us going day in and day out**

Thank you all so much for your love, prayers and support. You have no idea how much it all means to us.

**Tyler, you are the best big brother any little girl could dream of. Your devotion and love for your sister is inspiring. You are also the best son any mom and dad could ask for. We love you!!**

Buddy and I had no idea the outpouring of love we would receive for the walk this year. We are humbled and so, so thankful for everyone's support with donating &/or walking with us. The walk this year was the first of many...and hope it brought us that much closer to a cure.

Jillian and her Daddy, Mommy and bubba Tyler, are so blessed to have all of you in our lives.

We love you all!!

God Bless!!

Misc/Tyler's room

While Tyler was away in Orlando, with his FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) group, at state competition, we re-did his bedroom as an early birthday present. These are just some misc pics taken. The last pic is Jilli turning his head to see his new t.v. She was very excited for him.

Easter Fun

Hey everyone -
I recently received a recap from the St Pete JDRF Walk. For our very first walk we were tied for 8th with 2 other teams overall in the # of walkers who participated, with 23 walkers!! Thank you, thank you!! Our goal next year is to be in the top 3 (beating the #1 team might be a bit tough-see list from JDRF below - I stopped the list at our team)
Also, our total donation amount has increased due to family and friends still sending in donations - great big Thank you!!! The deadline for donations is April 24th and I look forward to a recap from JDRF for that as well. Here's the walker breakdown...

Team Name & # of Walkers
Pinellas County Schools/ PCTA- PESPA 246
Lifestyle Family Fitness 64
JMB'S Team 57
Catalina Marketing - Tyler's Team 32
Galen School of Nursing 30
Sam's Super Heroes 29
American Strategic Insurance 26
Eva's Cure 23
Raymond James Financial 23
Team Jilli-bean 23 (Woohoo!!!)

Also, we have found out that there IS a t-shirt contest, so we are going to enter our awesome shirts (made by Jeff at Stars Signatures). Winners will be announced at the May 28th post walk luncheon

Love to all!!!

Team Jilli-bean Grand Total...

$4,550.00!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you family, friends, extended family, co-workers, EVERYONE who helped us surpass our goal!!! Thank you to ALL walkers, individual donators and to Spheris for their corporate donation and to "Pa" Jeff, along with Stars Signatures, for our team shirts, which I might add were the BEST shirts at the walk!! We are overwhelmed and so, so grateful of ALL the support and love we have recieved.

We love you all and again...THANK YOU!!!!!

Hi Everyone - I cannot believe it's almost time for our walk!! What's even harder to believe is that is been almost a year since Jillian was diagnosed.
Since her diagnosis, it is safe to say she has had well over 1300 finger pokes and at least 700 injections of insulin.
And she's just 2 years old.
Her fingers look like a pin cushion. You can see tiny little holes in all her fingers. Well, mostly her left hand fingers as that's the hand she prefers we check on.
She can't eat a meal without first having her blood sugar checked.
She starts and ends each day with a blood sugar check, and now there are some nights we have to check her sugar levels at 2:00AM.

We are walking to support funding to find a cure. A cure that could end all of what she has to go through or even reduce it.
Each year more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. That's 40 children per day.
No child should have to go through this.

I know things are rough in the economy. Trust me, I know.
But every dollar counts.
Every prayer counts.


Please help support the

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Walk to Find a Cure.

donation page link:

http://walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=extranet.personalpage&confirmid=87053003

ROCKIN' FOR RESEARCH!!!!