A Letter From The Cannon Family
Dear Family & Friends,
It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 YEARS since Jaden was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile diabetes.) Jaden has endured 187 pump injections, 8,760 insulin shots, and over 18,250 finger pricks on her tiny-callused fingers!
As I sit here watching her read in a chair, our once scared and crying four year old is now a 9 year old and turning into a young lady. A young lady who DOES NOT remember life with out diabetes. She does remember past ambulance runs, glucose IV’s and having MRSA this year.( MRSA is a staph infection that was caused by her pump site) Fortunately, she once again prevailed!
Juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune condition, which causes the pancreas to shut down. Jaden NEEDS insulin to survive. The long-term complications include blindness, kidney and heart disease, stroke and amputation. Diabetes shortens the average life span by 15 years. We will always have to monitor food intake, exercise and insulin to avoid high and low blood sugars which could put her into a coma, or even worse…
Jaden now gets her insulin through an insulin pump. The pump site is inserted into her body every 2 days. This eliminates the 6 to 8 shots a day. It has also helped her control her blood sugars more closely. We thank God, modern technology and YOU! With out your continuous support, technology would not be where it is today.
We once again are asking you to help us make Jaden’s and our dreams come true! We want to find the cure for Juvenile Diabetes! What a great graduation present! Could you even imagine that phone call? “Jaden, this is the Dr’s office, could you please come in for your cure?” How we long to hear these words! You continue to make a difference!
PLEASE join our family walk team September 12,2009 @ Churchill Downs for The Greater Louisville Walk to Cure Diabetes!
There are 4 ways you can help:
- Keep Jaden in your prayers
- Join “JADEN”S JEWELS” family walk team made up of family and friends who collect pledges, wear hot pink t-shirts and walk with us!
- Send a tax-deductible donation to find a cure in the enclosed self addressed envelope. Please make checks out to JDRF.
- Register for the walk or make donations on line. www.jdrf.org Jadens Jewels.
Thank you and May God Bless!
The Cannon Family
Jack, Debby, Jaret, Jaden and Deven