Will’s Way Ambassadors are an energetic, enthusiastic group of teenagers who perform community service in return for donations to Will’s Way.  Each member of the new volunteer program completed an orientation session where they learned type 1 diabetes facts and the myths that surround the disease. At Will’s Way we are dedicated to making our communities more aware of the effects type 1 diabetes has on our children. The more we can educate the youth, the more they will learn to accept others for their differences, be aware how to take care of someone with type 1 diabetes as well as spread the facts (and not the myths) about type 1 diabetes to their communities.
 

Ambassador Q & A with Samantha Wolfe

Samantha is a junior at Carmel high school. She participates in her school’s Cabinet that coordinates all events relating to Dance Marathon for Riley Hospital. She is the middle child of two brothers. She enjoys athletic training, pole vault, watching sports and volunteering. She aspires to be a doctor. 

Q: Why did you want to be a Will’s Way volunteer?

A: I have known Will since elementary school so the opportunity to aid him in his pursuit of changing lives made me eager to be an ambassador.

Q: Before becoming an Ambassador did you understand what type 1 diabetes was?

A: I understood the basics but I did not have an in-depth knowledge of it.

Q: What is the one thing about type 1 diabetes that surprised you the most?

A: That anyone not just juveniles can get type 1 diabetes.

Q: Do you really think one person can make a difference in this world?  Why or why not?

A: I do think one person can change the world.  Although their impact does not directly change the world, that person prompts other people to change the world.  Essentially one person starts a chain reaction.

Q: You are an incredibly busy young person…why try and fit service into your schedule?

A: I have been so fortunate my whole life and I found a calling in helping and changing people’s lives.  I want to look back on my teenage life and say “I really did try to put others before myself.”

Q: Who are your heroes?  List one famous and one non-famous person and tell us why they are heroic to you.

A: Misty May Treanor and Keri Walsh are famous and humble.  They support charities to promote health of kids.  My grandma is not famous but she has had the courage and strength to beat cancer 3 times.  She taught my mom how to be a wonderful mother…my mom is also one of my idols!

Q: Will’s Way helps young diabetics and their families afford insulin pumps and cgm’s…why is this something that appeals to you?

A:  All the big charities search for a cure.  Will’s Way impacts people on a personal level so we can have a big impact on certain people who need it the most.

Q: What would you say are the benefits of volunteering

A:  Being able to see the joy and the positive impact just one person can spread.

Q: Thank you for your time and service!  What one last thing would you like to tell your peers about Will’s Way and/or volunteering?

A: Never be ashamed of being the quiet one, you are capable of impacting people’s lives by your actions rather than your words. 

Yellow buses, school supplies, and clothes shopping are all sure indicators that the start of a new school year is upon us…bringing joy and excitement to many families. However, if you are the parent of a type 1 diabetic child, this time of year brings lots of uncertainty and stress.

• Will the school be able to adequately care for your child?
• What are your rights?
• How do you approach your child’s teacher with your concerns?

These are all questions that families with a type 1 diabetic must ponder.

What is a 504 plan?

Usually a 504 for plan is used for general education students not requiring an individualized education plan. According to the American Diabetes Association:

“The 504 Plan sets out an agreement to make sure the student with diabetes has the same access to education as other children. It is a tool that can be used to make sure that the student, the parents/guardians, and school personnel understand their responsibilities and work through challenges or misunderstandings to avoid problems in the future.”

Although different school districts vary on their willingness to provide a 504…parents need to know their rights and understand that a 504 plan is a legally binding document to which the school must adhere.

Possible Accommodations for a Type 1 Diabetic in a 504 Plan

• Ability for the child to carry testing supplies on person at all times
• Longer lunch times if needed
• Access to restroom breaks whenever needed
• Having a trained staff member available to help check blood sugar and administer insulin if needed
• Allowing for extra sick days for doctor appointments and to deal with the health effects of the disease.

For a sample 504 plan for a student with type 1 diabetes click on this link:
http://main.diabetes.org/dorg/PDFs/Advocacy/Discrimination/504-plan.pdf

We here at Will’s Way encourage parents, students and the community to become educated on not only type 1 diabetes, but your rights when living with type 1 diabetes. Please don’t assume your school, your school nurse, teacher or principal understand type 1 diabetes. Take the time to educate them on what it is and what it isn’t.

Opening lines of communication is the key to having a successful year of diabetic management. Your child’s school and school staff must become part of your diabetic team that work with you to ensure your child’s success and safety. A little extra time, a little extra organization, and a little extra communication are all keys to start your type 1 diabetic child on a successful school year.

It is truly a blessing to be chosen as a child’s godmother. It’s a privilege to share in the up-bringing of another child while the parents shoulder the heavy lifting. It’s an honor to be chosen to be an active participant in the faith journey of that child. So, why does it suck?

In November of 2012 my godson, Will, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Of course, upon getting the call, I sprinted to the hospital, comforted my friends, and hugged Will. I remember thinking: they will get his blood sugar in control and then he’ll just get a shot once a day to regulate his insulin.  Right?  I wish.

I knew nothing about this chronic, life-altering disease: the testing 10 to15 times a day, shots to take you up, shots to take you down, getting up EVERY 2 hours EVERY night, counting carbs, formulas, and, oh yeah, the fear.  Fear that permeates each day for my friends when they go to bed at night.  Fear that now creeps into my godson’s mind when he thinks about his future: playing sports, driving, taking tests, being treated differently by his friends.

It sucks watching one of my best friends feel powerless to fix this for her child; watching her grieve the loss of family life as they knew it; seeing the guilt on her face for unconsciously ignoring the lives of her daughters; seeing her frustrated and anxious as she had to learn so much so fast to be able to care for her son and  the pressure of knowing she had make sure he knew how to effectively manage the disease.

It sucks there is no cure for type 1 diabetes. It sucks this disease carries with it the potential for death every night Will closes his eyes. It sucks knowing type 1 diabetes is part of every day for Will and 221,000 kids, and it will be forever.

Okay, being Will’s godmother doesn’t really suck, but being a loved one of a type 1 diabetic totally does. Being Will’s godmother is one of the greatest joys in my life; watching him suffer is anything but joyful. But, it is truly remarkable to watch the young man he is turning into. He could have felt sorry for himself, or plummeted into denial. Instead – he felt called to do something for others like him so that they too could have the choice in how they manage their disease.

If you want to join me in helping another child, just like Will, get the supplies he or she needs to be healthy and make type 1 diabetes suck a little less for them and their loved ones– please consider giving today.

A year and a half ago, my brother was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes. With a disease like diabetes, it’s easy to only see the negative effects it has on a family. My family chooses to see things differently. The past 18 months have been crazy difficult and challenging. But more than that, it’s been a year full of hope, love, faith, and encouragement. Will has taught me so much, and he is one of my greatest inspirations.

Wait a minute.

That was probably one of the most cliché sentences that I could have written. Before you continue to scan this blog post, thinking that I was forced to write it a certain way, with certain emotional and meaningful sentences that have been so overused they no longer are meaningful, let me explain.

You might have read Will’s story already, detailing the day he was diagnosed. But let me give you a quick synopsis of my side of the story. I was unaware that Will was going to the doctor for testing, I’m not sure if my parents had told me and I just forgot, or if they didn’t want to worry me and didn’t tell me. So I was 18 and sitting in statistics when I check my phone (spare me the lecture) and I saw a message from my mom that said “Call me as soon as you can!!” Well I had five minutes until lunch so I sat there panicking, expecting the worst, until the bell rang, then proceeded to run to the hallway and call my mom. My dad answers the phone and broke the news to me, Will has type 1 diabetes. At this point in time I didn’t know the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, or really anything about the disease at all. So, as hundreds of students file past me on the staircase, I started to cry, knowing nothing more than that my little brother had an incurable disease. Within the next hour I was at the hospital and I watched as our lives began to be changed by type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes is vicious. It demands attention. But Will won’t let diabetes define him, and that is the biggest victory of all. From day one, Will has been determined to be more than a diabetic. His story is not a sad story, and our family is not suffering. You see, Will wants to prevent other children with type 1 diabetes from having a sad story. He looks past his/our struggles, and understands that he has the means to control his disease. It might be tiring, it might be stressful, but he has the support both emotionally and financially to stay on top of this disease. But that’s not enough for him. Knowing how taxing diabetes can be, Will and my mom were determined to help other families with type 1 diabetes breathe a little easier.

With that goal in mind, Will’s Way was born. Will’s Way strives to provide financial support to families with diabetic kids. Because staying on top of Will’s diabetes isn’t enough for our family. No one should have to worry about not having enough money to provide medical support for their child.

So let me repeat myself. Will has taught me so much, and is one of my greatest inspirations. Because at the age of 14, he is looking past his own medical problems, and reaching out to those who desperately need the help. His selflessness is inspirational.

Please take the time to learn a little bit more about Will’s Way and its mission. If you have the means, I ask that you consider donating, and giving hope to families with diabetic children and financial burdens.