My son Ben, now 18 was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 10. Our family loves to travel and we did not let the rigors of diabetes management prevent us from traveling every spring break or summer to places like San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona, and even overseas to Rome, Athens and Munich. We made a plan, took extra supplies and insulin and adjusted his pump for the time zone changes. We estimated as best we could on carb counts.  And of course, we were always with him as his two primary resources.

Then, this past summer he had the opportunity to do a foreign student exchange – we would host a student from Spain for two weeks and Ben would travel back to Spain and spend two weeks there. Without us, which of course was a little daunting. He wanted to do it and it was an amazing opportunity for him. So, we agreed to do it and set about making our plan.

At around that time, my son and I attended a Type One nation event here in town.  One of the session speakers was a young lady talking about managing her type 1 diabetes when she went away to college.  She even mentioned that she had spent a semester traveling overseas with type 1 diabetes. We asked her a ton of questions and we were both excited about his upcoming adventure.  A week later, there was a Team Captain JDRF event with some informal break out sessions and I joined the table for parents with teenagers.

Some of the parents were talking about how they were afraid of letting their son/daughter go off to college because they were afraid to let the reins of diabetes management go completely.  When I said I was sending my son to Spain for two weeks to live with an exchange family, they looked at me like I was crazy!  They told me there was no way they would do that (and it was at least four different parents voicing this).  So, now I wasn’t as sure of our decision to send him and doubts and worries crept in.

Until…we saw our wonderful endocrinologist who thought it was a great idea and that Ben, at 17, should be able to manage his diabetes by himself for two weeks. She wrote a formal letter stating his diagnosis and that he had to carry all supplies with him – as well as food and drink if need be – on his person at all times while he traveled.  Even though Ben is on a pump, she gave us an extra novalog pen and lantus pen in case he needed them. We got an extra insulin bottle for him to take with the help of our pharmacist. We packed his old pump and four weeks’ worth of pump supplies just in case. We put this all in one backpack along with glucose tabs, his glucagon and other snacks that he carried at all times.  We sent a temporary letter allowing the host family to seek medical treatment for our son. We gave them (the host family) verbal instructions and then sent an email with specifics on what to do if Ben’s blood sugar became too low.

Well, Ben went off and I prayed and worried because – hey, I’m a mom and I too am used to holding those management reins – but he had an AMAZING experience!  He went low a time or two, but handled it fine.  He went sailing, took surfing lessons, and even got to spend a weekend in Madrid. It was an unforgettable experience for him and just another way to prove that having type 1 diabetes does not mean he has to miss out on life’s great adventures!

As 2014 comes to a close, let’s recount the many blessings that we have experienced here at Will’s Way.

Top 10 reasons we are grateful for the year 2014:

1. Will’s Way has helped 7 families purchase an insulin pump, continuous glucose monitor, blood glucose monitor or other diabetic supplies.
2. We have embarked on an exciting partnership with Roche Pharmaceuticals. We have the ability to provide the Accu-Check Aviva Expert Blood Glucose Monitors to Will’s Way families who are not on an insulin pump.
3. We successfully applied for and were granted our 501 (c)(3) status from the federal government.
4. Hundreds of people have stepped forward and believed in us and supported us through donations.  We could not have gotten this far without such wonderful support.
5. Will’s Way is now an Amazon Smile charity (even if it is listed as Will S Way…soon to be fixed!)
6. Our Will’s Way teen-ambassador program has spent over 100 hours volunteering. We have educated people type 1 diabetes facts as well as raised over $1,000.
7. DiabetesMine.com recognized Will’s Way as an innovative new charity that helps type 1 families afford durable medical equipment.
8. Our Cookie Exchange was a huge success. (Coming soon The Annual Will’s Way Cookie Exchange Fundraising Event!)
9. Will’s Way has been blessed with 3 amazing board members: Kim Santucci, Jen Whaley and Kristen Harvey.  Under their guidance we will continue to grow and provide more grants in 2015.
10. We successfully launched our website and established a user-friendly way for families and donors to contact us and donate.

We are also very  thankful for all the exciting new 2014 advances in diabetes research. We fervently hope to be out of business someday soon, but until that day comes we will strive to help an additional 10-15 families in 2015!

Will’s Way would like to wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!  And, as a reminder  – no matter the obstacle in your path…”where there’s a Will, there’s a Way!”

On Tuesday, November 20, 2012 life in the Oberndorfer House drastically changed forever.  At approximately 9am that morning, our youngest, Will, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  Nothing in our world would ever be the same.

Hind∙sight noun
Recognition of Possibilities

1. When I woke up the day after his diagnosis unable breathe because I felt so helpless in the face of this disease…I wish I knew that not only would T1D not defeat my son…he would learn to live a happy, active life.  Yes, he needs lots of “behind the scenes” care but he is managing diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is NOT managing him. 
2. My child does not need me to fix every problem in his life.  I cannot cure him of this disease.  I want to…I yearn to cure him, but I simply cannot.  But I can teach him how to live with grace and compassion.  I can teach him that everyone has a story and no one has the right to judge another.  Seek to understand, not to judge.
3. The amount of people willing to support us and lift us up would take my breath away.  We have been given so much on this journey; the support of our family, friends, co-workers, teammates and coaches has been key to our successful management of this disease.
4. Faith…it is not just a word.  Our faith in each other, in God, and in modern medicine allows us to accept this disease into our life.  While I will never stop praying for a cure, I have faith that Will can continue to live a full and complete life while we wait.
5. My son being diagnosed with a chronic, incurable disease would help me discover a new passion in my life…helping others beat this disease.  By starting and running Will’s Way I have found a purpose in an awful diagnosis.  Helping families get much needed life-style devices has given me so much joy.  Again, I wish I would have known on that Tuesday type 1 diabetes would not defeat us, but I’m thankful I now know we will actively work to defeat it!
6. Lastly, I wish I could have forseen what an amazing, capable person Will would turn out to be.  I remember the scared and sick and newly diagnosed child…and it is hard to recognize him in the confident, healthy, compassionate young man he has become.  He is a leader and an advocate.  He is a young man of great faith and compassion. I can’t wait to see what the next 2 years will bring.

Today, we celebrate.  We celebrate what we previously feared.  We celebrate 2 years of triumph.  We celebrate Will and all the other type 1 diabetics who are THRIVING!