Diabetic 8-year-old, family join walk to fund research
Добавлено: 03.10.2008, 7:22
Quinn Clarke is like many other 8-year-old boys. The third-grader at Riverside Elementary School in Ringle loves to play hockey and watch The Disney Channel.
Unlike most children his age, he has to test his blood sugar levels before hockey practice and before meals.
Quinn is one of nearly 3 million people in the United States who have Type 1 diabetes, meaning his pancreas does not make insulin, which helps the body's cells use blood sugar.
Quinn and his family will take steps toward finding a cure Sunday at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's walk in Stevens Point. Last year's walk raised $35,000; this year's goal is $40,000, said Julie Kersten, executive director of the foundation's northeast Wisconsin chapter.
The family learned of Quinn's condition shortly before his second birthday. Quinn's day care providers called and said he appeared ill and had been drinking lots of water, said his father, Paul Clarke Jr. Doctors told the family Quinn had juvenile diabetes.
The news was devastating for the family, said Chris Clarke-Epstein, Quinn's grandmother.
"This wasn't on my list of things" I wanted for my oldest grandchild, Clarke-Epstein said.
"I remember him being in the hospital and saying, 'No shot, Daddy. No shot,'" Paul Clarke said.
Quinn and his family quickly learned to check Quinn's blood sugar levels up to 10 times a day, give him the right dose of insulin and understand symptoms that suggest his blood sugar or insulin levels are off.
"Basically, you have to learn how to run a life-support system," Paul said. If Quinn's blood sugar levels remain high, it could permanently damage his kidneys, increase his risk of stroke and heart attack, and cause vision and nerve problems. Short-term problems can arise if Quinn gets too much insulin.
By age 4, Quinn was able to check his own blood sugar levels with a meter, and now he can give himself insulin with adult supervision, after being fitted with an insulin pump a few years ago, Paul Clarke said.
Taking part in the walk "allows me and Quinn to do something about" his juvenile diabetes, Paul Clarke said.
Quinn said he hopes to be a professional hockey player someday.
"I would be a scientist," but by that point, there might be a cure already, Quinn said.
Unlike most children his age, he has to test his blood sugar levels before hockey practice and before meals.
Quinn is one of nearly 3 million people in the United States who have Type 1 diabetes, meaning his pancreas does not make insulin, which helps the body's cells use blood sugar.
Quinn and his family will take steps toward finding a cure Sunday at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's walk in Stevens Point. Last year's walk raised $35,000; this year's goal is $40,000, said Julie Kersten, executive director of the foundation's northeast Wisconsin chapter.
The family learned of Quinn's condition shortly before his second birthday. Quinn's day care providers called and said he appeared ill and had been drinking lots of water, said his father, Paul Clarke Jr. Doctors told the family Quinn had juvenile diabetes.
The news was devastating for the family, said Chris Clarke-Epstein, Quinn's grandmother.
"This wasn't on my list of things" I wanted for my oldest grandchild, Clarke-Epstein said.
"I remember him being in the hospital and saying, 'No shot, Daddy. No shot,'" Paul Clarke said.
Quinn and his family quickly learned to check Quinn's blood sugar levels up to 10 times a day, give him the right dose of insulin and understand symptoms that suggest his blood sugar or insulin levels are off.
"Basically, you have to learn how to run a life-support system," Paul said. If Quinn's blood sugar levels remain high, it could permanently damage his kidneys, increase his risk of stroke and heart attack, and cause vision and nerve problems. Short-term problems can arise if Quinn gets too much insulin.
By age 4, Quinn was able to check his own blood sugar levels with a meter, and now he can give himself insulin with adult supervision, after being fitted with an insulin pump a few years ago, Paul Clarke said.
Taking part in the walk "allows me and Quinn to do something about" his juvenile diabetes, Paul Clarke said.
Quinn said he hopes to be a professional hockey player someday.
"I would be a scientist," but by that point, there might be a cure already, Quinn said.