Friday, September 27, 2013

my hero



from my daughter's face book page:

My son Travis is a shy kid. A sweet, mild mannered guy. And because of this, he won't ask you to himself to support his fight for a cure of Type 1 Diabetes as we walk with JDRF October 12th at Ledbetter. He won't ask you if you could donate a couple bucks to JDRF in support of the walk. He'll most likely not talk about his diabetes with you because he struggles with being different. He struggles with lows and highs, he cry's when his number drops too much from pain and sickness, and he's silly and weird when he gets too high. He has scar tissue forming under his precious skin from injections and his fingers are raw from pricking 8-10 times a day. But Travis won't tell you any of this. He's brave and frustrated and sad at times, but he's also a really happy kid who wants to play soccer and baseball in college and who wants more than anything to help find a cure for T1D. So, because he won't ask you to come because he's afraid no one will, I'm going to ask you myself, that on October 12th at 10:00 some of you will walk three miles and be one of "Travis's Homies" and support his fight, and so many others. 






















a year ago may, my 11 year old grandson travis, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. chuck and i were in africa at the time we received the call. always the biggest fear while traveling. my daughter cried into the phone 'mom, we're in the hospital, it's travis.'

type 1 diabetes is a life changing disease. it's an every minute of every day disease, it never takes a rest. Type 1 diabetes is a life-threatening autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin. It strikes both children and adults suddenly and changes life as they know it forever. It cannot be prevented and there is no cure.
every bit of what is eaten is weighed or measured, counted...several times a day blood is checked with a poke of the finger and then injections are administered. travis has learned to give himself shots in his leg and arm and belly. it is managed, and as yet, there is no cure. twelve months ago i didn't know any of this.

he carries a refrigerated lunch box with him at all times. for his blood testing supplies and insulin. and as far as i know, he never complains. once, he asked his mom if she would hold it, and i heard her reply 'you need to get used to it son'. it's true, she was right, and she's doing an incredible job of helping managing travis's disease. yet i saw his small shoulders shrug down while reaching for that lunch box, and i took it putting it over my arm. i would carry the weight, of the box and i wished of this disease if only for a moment (i would take it forever, why couldn't it have been me?). and i wished so dearly for a little while, my grandson could be just a boy again.

the last photo of this post travis was showing what he was grateful for, last year at thanksgiving, we all, as a family wrote on leaves what we were thankful for, attaching them to a family tree. this year i'll write i'm grateful he's alive, that his type 1 diabetes is being managed (so grateful to my daughter and everyone in our family) and i'll be be forever grateful when a cure is found.

* * *

i've struggled with this, how to write, stopping and starting over again...
if you are in the santa barbara area and would like to walk to support the cure for type 1 diabetes
please join us and our team (half our goal has already been raised), 
this years walk takes place october 12th, 2013
you can learn more by clicking on the link below,
thank you SO VERY MUCH, lori xxxxxxxxx

74 comments:

  1. Wish I could be there. Will do a walk here in South Africa for Diabetes in SA on behalf of Travis xxx

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    1. dear janet,

      now i'll always remember trying to find you in tambo international, and this phone call from home. i wish you could be here too. thank you xxxxxxxx

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  2. My heart goes out to Travis Lori. My father had Type 1 diabetes for most of his life so I know what your Travis is going through. While I can't be there to walk with you all please know that I give each year to find a cure for this disease. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. Much love.

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    1. thank you so much tracey, i'm so sorry to hear your father had it too. thank you for your wishes and for your giving, you are an amazingly loving person. xxxxxxxxx

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  3. I'm actually walking this weekend for JDRF. My photographer friend was diagnosed around the same age as Travis and she is more than ready to find a cure. I'll be thinking of Travis when we walk this weekend. xoxo

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    1. i'll be thinking of you emily, give your friend a hug from me and yourself too. xxxxxxxxxx

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  4. Lori, can you email me where I can send a donation? I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Houston for a show, but will be back next week and would love to sponsor Travis. I have a cousin, niece, and one of Kelly's best friends (and ours) little girl, who is just 10 days younger than Ari, that have been diagnosed with Type I diabetes. I always walked when we lived in Connecticut, but I haven't seen anything here in North Carolina so far...although, I'm sure there is. Love you and your brave hero, XOXO

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    1. love you too susan, thank you so much. i sent you an email. i'm so sorry to hear that kelly's best friends little girl has been diagnosed too. children with t1d are so rare in our area.

      ~ just a note, it is possible to donate or find out more by clicking on 'travis's homies' at the bottom of this post. thank you so much.

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    2. p.s. i hope you have a wonderful show!

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  5. Wishing I lived closer to do the walk with you. Will be thinking of you all on the 12th.
    Hugs
    Emma

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    1. thank you emma, it would be so great if you were near!

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  6. Since I can't be there to walk with you. The 12th I will be thinking of Travis and other's who are fighting. I will send every ounce of good will and positive thoughts out there in hopes that you all can feel it.
    I can't even imagine how hard it must have been to write this post, Lori. Thank you for doing it, so that we can all be involved in any way we can. XO

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    1. dear andi, thank you for your (powerful) words, and thank you for being one of the kindest most selfless people i know. your positive thoughts will be with us on the walk. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  7. Lori such a heart felt post. Travis is so brave. Have had first hand experience with dealing with this. It turns your world upside down. Also have a close friend who's had it most of his life. So know what you are all going through.
    Love all the pics beautiful. Would love to join you but too far away. Hope it goes well. Give Travis a big Hug.
    Rosezeeta.

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    1. dear rosezetta, thank you so much, there is something really comforting about you knowing how this is. i love these family photos so much too, and i will give travis a hug from you. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  8. All the best on the walk, we will be thinking of you, Travis and the whole team.

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  9. Sounds like you have an amazing Grandson! I can't be there, but I have made a small donation to the Team of homies!! (yay for paypal!)

    xxxx

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    1. thank you so much sarah, you made me cry today, it gives us hope. THANK YOU. xxxxxxxxxxxx

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  10. It's a tough tough disease, but manageable with hard work, life changes, and determination...which it appears your family has. I hope my small donation will help Lori, and sending heartfelt love

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    1. MIM, thank you! (cried again) because it will surely help. sending love to you, hope to see you next time your on this coast.

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  11. Can't be there , but made a small donation . Such a worthy cause and a tough disease, especially hard for a young child . Tell Travis good luck on doantions and his walk. My husband struggles with type 2 which is hard enough,

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    1. dear trudy, thank you so so much, your donation is more appreciated than you could know. i will tell travis and i know he will smile his sweet little smile. good luck to your husband.

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  12. I want to be one of Travis' Homies. I'd be happy to donate. I wish I could fly cross country and walk with you!

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    1. i wish you could be here andee! you are one of his homies at heart though. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  13. Replies
    1. ale, thank you for your incredibly generous donation. it gives hope, HOPE, a cure will be found. thank you.

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  14. Awww, what an amazing young man. I'm going to jump over to the donation page -- wish I could be there to walk with you as well.
    Blessings & angels,
    G

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    1. i wish you could too gigi, thank you so much, truly. xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  15. Oh, Lori, We have a child in our extended family as well as a friends daughter with this type of diabetes so I know a bit about what you are going thru! Of course I wanted to contribute and was happy to donate a small amount to your fight for a cure against it!
    As I take walks almost every day, I will keep you in my thoughts on the 12th during my walk!
    Sending you warm thoughts from beautiful Lund, Sweden where I am visiting my baby girl, the first one to leave the nest to go study at the university here./Ida

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    1. thank you so much ida, for everyone fighting this disease, it helps. i know you are enjoying your time with your girl, how wonderful. (i hope you are taking photos of lund to share) :)

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    2. a litte off-topc Karin-Ida - I hope you are enjoying Lund, and that your daughter will like university life here! It is a nice little town.

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  16. Your sweet grandson is in my thoughts and prayers!

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  17. what a sweetheart, i'm sorry he has to deal with this at such a young age. let's hope for a cure...i'm going to head over to donate right now...

    sorry, unrelated to this post, but would you email me your shipping address? maddermade(at)gmail.com

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  18. Lori, what an amazing post...so incredibly touching. Prayers for Travis...

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    1. thank you lisa, we all appreciate it. xxxxxxxxxx

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  19. why did safari connect to paypal and chrome didn't??? (must be our Africa connection?! :) ) Wish we were closer so we could walk with you all....my grandsons are about Travis' age; we would all have been there.
    Lots of Love --and a bit of a donation-- coming your way!

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    1. dear steph, thank you so much. i'm having a bit of confusion with all internet things lately (the new iphone system) and this jdrf website is confusing to me. i added my personal page since even though i am on travis's team, it won't show my name there. i wish you were all closer too to come walk...xxxxxxxxxxxx

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  20. Dear Lori...my friend, my soul-sister-mama-friend...you know that I hear every single word you write in the depths of my heart. Looking at these beautiful photos, I see this boy whom you love and I know how it hurts the heart and soul of you that he struggles and hurts and deals with such an enormous burden. I so wish, with every fibre of my being, that we could take it away from Travis and my daughter and all the others, those diagnosed and those that will be diagnosed. Until then, we let people know what it is like to live with this condition. It is not easy. Not even for a minute, is it easy. And managing is the best word for it because it is uncontrollable. But, I believe we are close to a cure. I believe the researchers are so so close, and perhaps in their lifetime, our children will live T1D free. I love you, Lori. I haven't been in cyberworld all that much lately, but I think of you all the time. Thank you for this post...I know how tender and vulnerable it is to write about this. xoxoxoxoxo

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    1. dearest jules, it is me that should be thanking you and your sunshine. it is the courage and strength shown by you, both of you, that helped me so much in the beginning. and still. and it is not even me, it is you and your baby, my daughter and hers, that are linked by this disease, it is as if you have it too. i know how hard it is, every minute of every hour, every day. i want to do everything i can until you can all be free. i love you too jules xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  21. Dear Lori, what a beautiful grandson you have! It's so sad that he has to fight this - I have a friend with type 1 diabetes and know that it is always THERE - you cannot get away from it even for a short period of time. It's really hard on a child.

    I wish I lived closer, then I would come.

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    1. dear irene, it is true, and as much on the parent, never a moment to not think of it and worry. thank you so much for your support, all these wishes mean so much. xxxxxxxx

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  22. LORI HELLO: I HAVE BEEN SHRUNK IN HEART AND HAS BROUGHT ME MANY MEMORIES .. I AM A SPANISH WOMAN READ YOU ALWAYS TELL THE BLOG AND ALSO I AM DIABETIC, WITH 12 YEARS AND NOW I HAVE STARTED 41. BE VERY HARD HARD TO DIABETIC BUT ONCE YOU KNOW YOUR BODY AND WITH ALL IT'S EASIER AOS. BUT THE TRUTH IS THE CONTROL? LEARN AND IT REALLY IS. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN AND VERY HEALTHY. SPIRITS AND WANTED TO GIVE YOU GO AHEAD, YOU MUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT. MY NAME Igone and wish SOON TO PASS THAT TROUBLE. KISSES. Igone

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    1. bless your heart igone, thank you so much for sharing, there is still so much for us to learn, and to learn to live with this disease. your words bring so much comfort because i hear that it is possible to lead a full healthy life and with some amount of control. thank you for your comment, it means so much to me.
      PRAYING FOR A CURE, for you, and everyone fighting T1D. xxxxxxxxxxxx

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  23. What a handsome grandson and granddaughter you have Lori! One of my best friends has a son with the same kind of diabetes as well. He is 18 now and quite a strong lad. He had lots of highs and lows, but I believe he is pretty stable now. Hope your grandson will be too!

    Happy week,

    Madelief x

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    1. thank you madelief, i really love hearing stories of hope like this, i'm so glad your best friends son is doing so well! we have a lot of hope for travis too. :) xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  24. Lori - heartbreaker post. I could feel your angst and your Mama Bear spirit to protect and fight for your beloved. I am honoured to donate -- that's the easy part. I wish I could walk by your side by lovely mermaid friend. Love and more love, Lyn

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    1. thank you dear lyn, you will be there in spirit i know, i appreciate your words so much. thank you so much for your generous donation! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  25. Such a hard thing to see the ones you love hurting. Love to you all.

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  26. Oh Lori,
    What a lot for a young boy to carry. He is so brave and beautiful. I love all the photos of him, he is surrounded by such love!
    I'm sending you all much love, and will be there walking with you in Spirit.
    My Ivy just turned 11 on Sunday and I feel so blessed and grateful she is well. My friend's son also got diagnosed with the same disease about a year ago, at age 11. He is a twin and it's been a huge adjustment for everyone. They will be walking here in Melbourne.
    Sending you light.
    x Jo

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    1. thanks so much jo, means so much, we appreciate your love and your generous donation. i'm so sorry to hear about your friends son. i wish with all my heart for a cure to be found. there is some exciting news on the horizon re T1D, i'll write about soon. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  27. Wow. I had no idea. Thank you for sharing this with us. I can't imagine how families deal with this level of Diabetes, but then also...I know if it happened to us, we would do exactly what your family is doing. I may not be able to join the walk on that day, but I would like to make a donation if I could to the cause. I will go to your link and see if I can find that info.
    Much Love To You. I don't know what else to say but...I'm so glad your grandson has you.
    XO

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    1. thank you so much cory. means the world, you are a sweetheart (and a big deal one too). :)
      xxxxxxxxxxxx

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  28. My heart is stuck in my throat. I KNOW how hard it must have been for her to NOT hold his cooler and to tell him that he had to get used to holding it.

    Thank you dear friend. I send prayers for Travis and for all who suffer this. I have so many loved ones afflicted with it.

    Love,

    Sharon

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    1. thank you so much dear sharon, i am so sorry you have loved ones with T1D too. a cure, that's what's needed. i'm praying too. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  29. Dear Lori I am just catching up with your blog, and my heart goes out to you and your family coping with this cruel illness. i am so glad it is being successfully managed and like everyone else i hope for a cure. Travis truly is a hero, and I wish him the very best for the future. Good luck on your walk.
    Helen xo

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  30. Catching up on blog reading and just seeing all of this now...it brought tears to my eyes. Sending you and Travis both a huge hug. Hope the walk next week is a huge success.

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  31. beautiful , heartfelt post & photos of your family & the perfect blog post title ~ travis is a hero.
    my husband's best friend was recently diagnosed with diabetis - he's almost 60 but suspects he has had it for some years.
    praying for a cure & will be with you in spirit on Saturday. xo

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  32. Dear Lori,
    I was very touched to read about Travis's courage and determination. Someone close to me also has T1D, and it is definitely time for a cure. I will hold you all in my heart on Saturday, and hope that my small contribution can help us get closer to bringing freedom back into Travis's life.

    xoxo Nicole

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  33. During my first trimester, I stopped reading most of the blogs I normally read because I was so exhausted all the time. This post made me cry. I remember being an ocean apart from my cousin when I found out he had Type 1 Diabetes. He was hospitalized for a week in Northern Ireland, where he and his family live. I live in the US. I was so scared that he would die and that I would not be able to say "goodbye".

    I'm glad the walk went well. The weather looked perfect.

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xoxo lori