Austin Cooper was fifteen years old when diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

He had to walk away from his old life, and embrace what his new life with Diabetes held in store from him.

After going through booklets and scouring the net, Austin was still not comfortable with the chunky chains he needed to wear for life-saving identification. It doesn’t make a young person diagnosed with this  condition feel any better about it when they are presented with clunky, unhip bracelets with a red cross in the middle screaming, ”I’m a walking emergency!!”

In fact, it’s quite poetic.

When I see people with Diabetes dragging the clunky versions of medical ID along with them , it almost feels like they have resigned themselves to the fact that they are “chained” to Diabetes.

Austin tried four different versions of the “chain” before deciding that the market for Medical ID was left behind in a time way before his years. He couldn’t make himself wear what was available, so he decided that he needed to make a difference.

Look no further. Austin Cooper has just brought bling to sting.

Austin’s website, www.evasionid.com, showcases his two very modern, sleek, stylish and funky medical ID designs. They are suitable for anyone with Type 1 Diabetes; on the front,they have a stainless steel engraved medical panel, “Type 1 Diabetes“ stamped on the back and are 100% leather to boot!

Not only that, but with every purchase, Austin donates 10% to our favourite charity, JDRF.

Take a look at Austin’s Mission Statement on www.evasionid.com.

EvasionID boasts a range of funkalicious, fashionable bracelets that are perfect for day/work/evening wear. They are unisex, stong, durable and very affordable!!  In fact, I announce here on this post, chunky, clunky ID chains-be gone with you!

Whether you are newly diagnosed, a teen, or an adult of any age, Evasion ID has a modern, fresh new approach for your Type 1 Diabetes Medical Identification requirements.

Just in case you missed how much I love Austin Cooper’s new diabetes innovation, check out his website

www.evasionid.com

(My son, Lance already has his picked out. Actually, he wants one in two colours to mix and match.)

While I’m at it, I think huge kudos need to be given to Austin, one so new to life with Diabetes, yet one so determined to honour himself through his creativity, AND the entire Diabetes community worldwide. With 10% of his profits going to JDRF, he is also contributing to help find the cure that kids like my Lance and Austin deserve so, so much.

We, who put fashion before function, we praise you, Austin Cooper!!

“After demands from parents, the government has agreed to subsidise the cost of insulin pumps for people aged under 18 with type 1 diabetes from November this year, at a cost of $5.5 million over four years.”

OUR FEDERAL BUDGET RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY…..

I CAN’T BELIEVE WE DID IT!!!!

OUR CHILDREN WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES FINALLY HAVE A CHANCE TO LEAD AN INDEPENDENT LIFE, AND ENJOY GOOD HEALTH AGAIN!!!!!

WE COULDN’T AND WOULDN’T HAVE THIS RESULT WITHOUT THE POWERS THAT BE AT JDRF AUSTRALIA.

IF IT WASN’T 4.34am, I’D RING EVERY MOTHER OR FATHER WITH A CHILD WHO HAS DIABETES SO THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE!!!!

YOU BETTER KEEP YOUR WORD, KEVIN RUDD!!!! BUT FOR NOW-THANK GOD YOU ARE OUR PRIME MINISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Sometime ago, our library was having a clean-out sale, dumping the “You haven’t been borrowed on a high enough rotation” books, for the gorgeous, paperback variety with the glossy covers that just make you want to glide your hand over its pristine appearance and breathe in the fresh print.

We were handed a large, heavy duty paperbag, the type you would see in an American movie where the checkout chick offers “Paper or Plastic?” Lance and I couldn’t believe our luck-there were literally piles and piles of kids’ books. He was in sheer literary heaven.

A lady with a perfectly placed coiff suggested that I take a browse at some of the parenting books. I told Lance exactly where I would be, whilst his paper bag was quickly growing in size. He gave a hurried nod, and I shuffled over to what looked like a very BORING section.

There were books about how to make your own macrame pot plant hangers, casserole recipe books,” How to grow your own bathroom ferns”, and yes, even a pearler entitled “How to Help your Moggie Have A Home Birth.” I stifled some laughs at the titles that were clearly hot trends circa 1977=year I was born.

Then there were some health books. “How to help your anaemic child..”Growing Pains,or just a Growing Pain?” “Asthma? Is It All About Your Mattress?

The title of the next book wiped the sardonic smirk off my face in a heartbeat.

Parenting A Diabetic Child.

A Practical, Empathetic Guide to Help You and Your Child Live With Type 1 Diabetes.

By Gloria Loring.

I stopped, re-reading the title over and over again. Why do I always trip over these rare books, articles, old newspaper clippings.. not that I’m complaining, as they are so pertinent to my life. It’s just that I promised myself a while back, no more diabetes books, they only leave me miserable and swollen with tears that explode five days later at a really inappropriate time…

Anyway,  of course I clutched hold of it, shoved it into Lance’s already bursting bag and paid my $5.

I wanted to go straight home and start power-reading.

It was published in 1991, so I was interested to see if I could source where a particular idea or notion had grown from.  (I could already envisage the many passionate people -myself included-baulking at the title..very unpolitically correct, Gloria!!) But hey, what was political correctness in 1991?

 After reading the book, I wouldn’t have cared if she called it “My Diabetic Kid and Me With My Pretty Little Perfect Pancreas.” She got straight to the heart of the subject and addressed SO many of the issues that an endocrinologist has not and can not give me answers for.

Gloria is actually quite the celebrity, not particularly well known in Australia, (or maybe she is, and not in my circle??) She is the former wife of Alan Thicke,star of 80’s comedy Growing Pains. She has entertained at the Academy Awards, made countless albums, performed with Hollywood’s Greatest and earnt some very favourable reviews. (See below)

“She’s been described as having “one of the best vocal instruments in pop music since the salad days of Barbra Streisand.” As a singer/actress/songwriter/author Gloria’s career has spanned three decades encompassing recordings, concert tours, appearances on stage, television, and radio.”

She also wrote the theme song for Diff’rent Strokes (that theme song is smokin’!!!!) and Growing Pains…my hero! (I adored these two shows as an 8 year old girl, especially when a television channel put them on back-to-back.

All of these accolades are fantastic, but after reading the book, to me, I felt that she was just a parent, like me, with a young boy (Brennan ) who was diagnosed at an early age with Type 1 Diabetes.

Gloria is also an outstanding advocate within the American Diabetes Community. In fact, it was the determination and positivity of her and several other parents that started the JDF-(Juvenile Diabetes Foundation,) which some years later became known as the JDRF;( Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.) From a small group of parents who wanted to see their children set free from this condition, it had grown into an annual, million dollar making non-profit Foundation in Australia alone.

Considering Gloria’s book is the best part of 20 years old, she has certainly done her homework. If this was the first book you found and read after your child was diagnosed, you would still have an accurate and rich knowledge base behind you. She writes about all the things that I had always craved answers for, but have had to go through the painful reality of finding them  out for myself, and very often through the cruelest way of all; seeing my baby Lance suffer.

My favourite part of this book is how she states that the then “JDF can only fund only one of out five researchers who wants to do worthwile studies in diabetes. THe U.S. Government funds only one out of four researchers. That means that 75 to 80 percent of the scientists who would like to be working on diabetes-related questions are not able to obtain funding from JDF or the US Government;the two largest sources of diabetes research in the world.”:

She then goes on to say-”A CURE CAN BE FOUND.”

Her reasoning? “During President Franklin Roosevelt’s term in office, a commitment was made to find a cure for polio. It became a priority, and the task was accomplished.”

“The same thing happened after John F. Kennedy inspired us all to believe that we could put a man on the moon. In the same way, with commitment and the proper allocation of resources, we CAN make diabetes a thing of the past.”

When I think of the current Islet Transplant Program that has been in the workings for the past four years, and all of the other scientists that are conducting JDRF funded trials in Australia alone, I suddenly realised that it is reasonable to consider that a cure is possible in Lance’s lifetime.

 Does Prime Minister Rudd not have a major problem on his hands, with 5 children or young adults being diagnosed daily with Type 1 Diabetes, and a shortage of specialists to treat them?

(I am going to send that one particular paragraph from Gloria’s book to Prime Minister Rudd.)

JDRF Australia continiously provide new and exciting developments in the world of Type 1 Diabetes.  They ensure that new and promising research is always continuing, new trials and breakthroughs are always investigated, and desperately needed funds are being raised throughout each year.

However, I think that the unsung hero here is Gloria and her band of parents’ who supported and believed in her sole passion.

 On behalf of Lance and the 140 000 Australians living with Type 1 Diabetes-Thank You Gloria. Parents like you are the people who didn’t flinch when their child was diagnosed, therefore helping other parents have hope, by giving their children belief and self-assurance that one day, they may lead an insulin independent life. We just have to keep hoping,  battling, praying and fighting for this cure. Every mothers’ baby, whether their “baby” is now a fully grown adult or a seven year old boy, deserves to know that there can be miracles if you believe. ( I think I just used a line out of a Mariah Carey/Whitney Houston Duet…) Oh well..it was appropriate, and I don’t think Mariah and Whitney will be too worried.

It’s that time of year again!!!

Each May of every year, JDRF Australia and the Type 1 Community celebrates Jelly Baby Month.

The humble Jelly Baby has become quite the unsung hero, even pulling Lance out of a severe early morning hypo at 7am this morning!!! (8 Jellybabies later, and I could gradually see my son returning from the brink of unconsiousness.)

Every year, thousands of JDRF staff, Youth Ambassadors, JDRF Advocates, volunteers and many other generous souls go doorknocking, approach hospitals, businesses, passersby, friends and family, selling packets of Jelly Babies, pens, keyrings, teddybears-all baring the simple but poignant message:

Jelly Babies Save Lives.

Last year, almost $858 000 was raised in the month of May. This year, for the tenth anniversary of Jelly Baby Month, JDRF is aiming for $1 million, that would be donated directly to finding a cure!!!

How can YOU help??? If you shop at any of the 700 Woolworths/Safeways stores within Australia, you will notice at the checkouts colourful boxes, jam packed with the “Jelly Baby” featured everywhere, as well as groovy, fun examples of colourful, exciting merchandise. All products are $10 or less, and anything over $2 is tax deductible.

Amcal Chemists,Medibank Private and Wendy’s also help us out by selling our merchandise.

Who do you contact if you want to make a donation on behalf of a loved one with Type 1 Diabetes???

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation — All States (Australia)
Tel 1300 363 126
Email info@jdrf.org.au

(If you would like to support make a donation exclusively in Lance’s name, please contact our Queensland JDRF Government Programs Manager

Queensland - Georgina Duncan on (07) 3221 1400 or gduncan@jdrf.org.au

If every person with Type 1 Diabetes donated $1, we would instantly have over $140 000. ( In 2007, Lance and I raised $2500 on our own, simply by doorknocking from house-to house in our neighbourhood!!!!!)

This is a fantastic project to get involved in. If your children receive pocket money, how about suggesting that they contribute just $2 during JellyBaby Month, explaining that people with Type 1 Diabetes must have numerous needles AND fingerpricks, in order to survive?

Jelly babies save lives – and so can you!

My friend Jim is the only other person that I know who really understands what Lance goes through with Diabetes. They have very similar issues regarding plummeting hypoglycaemia, and identify with each other amazingly, despite the age difference.

 Jim understands when Lance complains of how a hyper feels.

 Lance understands when Jim complains of a headache that won’t quit post hypo.

 Jim is the only person who truly identifies with Lance’s attempts at describing how having Diabetes feels.

Jim is a man who has survived a lot of heartbreaking blows in his young life. Despite having an extremely rare auto-immune disease, he is able to look at life and laugh and see beauty around him. He is happily married, he has just celebrated his 24th birthday, and has new and exciting ventures coming his way. He struggles to keep his diabetes and other life-threatening conditions under control, and between he and his wife, they manage to keep him out of trouble and more importantly, out of hospital.

In recent times, Jim has been noticing changes with his eyesight. He consulted an optometrist, who decked him out in some flash new glasses. He was told that he needed to have further examinations, as there was some abonormalities that were detected.  After several appointments with opthamologists and other specialists, it appears inevitable that eventually, Jim will lose his sight.

His wife administers three lots of eye drops several times a day to reduce the photo sensitivity that he experiences. They work through every problem that comes their way. Despite the fact that he endures pain and discomfort, and fear of his unknown future, he is still willing to try anything new, and to “see” as much as he can before his occasional bad days become more frequent.

He has many really interesting and thought-provoking ideas, and he has decided to share them with the world on his new blog, entitled http://sweetbittersurvival.wordpress.com/ He also candidly shares how his dreams have been altered without his permission.

It’s more than your average diabetes yarn. His optimism and confidence are truly inspiring, and for those looking for a read with a twist of sweetness and light, fighting spirit, hope, courage and determination, Sweetbitter Survival will not disappoint. His refusal to give in to his diagnoses is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

 Go visit his site and tell him how amazing he is!!!

In November, 2006, I had the extreme honour of travelling to Canberra with Lance, other children and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes, their parents and our incredible JDRF Australia staff. We were attending a function called “Kids in the House“, an event that drew national media attention and stained the pristine interior of Parliament House with a chronic illness that is so often misunderstood. By the time we had left, hundreds of fingerpricks had been performed, dozens of real life stories were told, and thousands of tears were shed.

Lance was only 5 years old at the time, and had a blood sugar reading of 23.8mmol/L during the procedings. He was slumped on my lap, his eyes were barely open, and I had to do everything in my power to prevent him from yelling out in frustration during the speeches. Thankfully, he drifted off for long enough so that I could take some photos, and actually clap eyes on the previous Prime Minister, John Howard.

However, my mind was consumed with some of the most powerful and emotive words that I had heard expressed from a young person with Type 1 Diabetes. A then-17 year old teen, with gorgeous dark curls spoke candidly and honestly about an issue that is rarely discussed in association with Type 1 Diabetes.

Gareth Eldershaw opened the eyes wide shut of the parents, politicians and many VIP attendees.

He stood alone, his eyes clearly carrying burdens that you would not expect to see in a 17 year old boy. He spoke about his struggles with a ten year stint living with Type 1 Diabetes. That alone, was heartbreaking, especially when my own son doesn’t know a life without it. However, no one expected him to reveal his devastating and perilous journey with severe Clinical Depression.

Gary’s face was burnt into my mind for the best part of the next week, and the words that he had shared had made me ache with despair for him and his family, AND for the 140 000 Australians who live with the cruel and misunderstood condition that is Type 1 Diabetes.

In recent times, www.whydidtheinsulindie.com has been inundated with parents, carers of teenagers with Type 1 Diabetes and other chronic illnesses and people who are hiding behind their computer screen who are desperately searching for a phrase, or a sentence that they may identify with, or match the symptoms that they are experiencing. I knew that I wanted to emphasize the trauma of depression as well as coping with Diabetes (in particular), because it is so overwhelming, infuriating and debilitating for the sufferer and the caregiver. Two silent, unpredictable conditions that bring out the worst in each other.

I also knew exactly who to ask for help.

Gary was more than happy to relive his many years living with Type 1 Diabetes, and he had summoned up much bravery and delved into private and difficult territory by talking about the impact that depression has had upon him, his family, his friends, his diabetes and his future. Gary’s mother, Annette, has also contributed to this interview by recalling some of the darkest times in Gary’s battle with the bottomless pit that is depression.

The information that Gary and Annette have shared is recounting a part of Gary’s life that hopefully never resurfaces. It is their hope that by reliving these memories, other young people and loved ones can feel assured that they aren’t alone, and know that there is hope for better days ahead.

Kate vs Gary-waxing lyrical on all things pancreatic, systematic, traumatic, psychiatric…

When we last saw each other I recall that you were 17-ish. How old are you now? 19 years old.

What is your Starsign? November 24, whatever that is. ( Lance’s birthday is November 23, which makes you a Sagittarius!)

Are you still studying? Nearly finished a TAFE Diploma in Performance Music. The Course wasn’t quite what I expected so I haven’t gone back. I’m having some time to get my head together for a few months & doing intensive drumkit practise, preparing for band gigs (One Way Down .. see me on myspace) & doing lots of composition for band & personal satisfaction. I’m really getting into transcriptions of other’s songs.

What special talent do you want to share with the world? (In other words, career hopes?) Famous Heavy Metal Rock Drummer!!!

Do you still have your tonsils? Yes…

Ever tried sushi?? Not a fan…

What’s on your iPod at the mo? Every genre imaginable from renaissance choral music ( I went to Europe last December with my old school choir – sing lots of old music & some contemporary Australian compositions – great fun) also many tens of thousands of contemporary music/songs everything from meditation Enya stuff to Philip Glass to metal (lots of metal.)

I can still see you standing at the podium in the Great Hall at Parliament House. I was seated next to a VIP; she was a Secretary for a Member of Parliament. Whilst you spoke, she clutched hold of my arm, lost all control of her etiquette and sobbed openly, using my dress to mop up her tears! Not that I could see that well, (tears were spilling down my face..,) but there were 10 year old kids, blokey, rugged fathers, cold, pretentious politicians and the beautiful JDRF staff, all seated, transfixed by your every word, all with crumpled Kleenex embedded in their palms. Between the VIP and me, we were both openly weeping towards the end of your speech. For me, my tears weren’t a result of pity or empathy, but more because of your gentle, humble energy and your intense inner strength. Your courage to provide awareness and share painful memories to a roomful of people about depression - and that despite the fact that Lance was asleep, how fortunate he is to have a male role model to admire. Your gorgeous Mum sent me a copy of “the speech” which has again left my eyes hazy…

Kids in the House Speech- 1 November 2006..

My name is Gareth Eldershaw, I am 17 years old and I have had diabetes for over 10 years. Its been 3 years since the first Kids in the House and the message is still very simple. I need a cure for type 1 diabetes. All the kids in Australia who have type 1 want a cure and so do their parents and families and friends.

Diabetes hasn’t just wrecked my life, but everyone’s in my family as well. I have just had my 10 year anniversary of my diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Maybe that’s not a long time in some people’s lives – but for me it means I just don’t remember back to a time without diabetes. Before I was diagnosed my family had planned a trip to Africa. In the end we still went, but my parents were terrified in case something went wrong. We tried to do cool things like other families but nothing is spontaneous with diabetes, everywhere you go you must take needles, insulin, glucometer, food.

The worst bit is the needles. Over and over day and night. They never stop. Now I am a teenager, diabetes is more of a pain than ever. It is with me all the time. I try to stay positive about a cure coming soon but I worry about long-term complications.

Like all teenagers I have struggled with the pressure of our time, but living with type 1 diabetes and all it involves makes it worse. I really went off the deep end last Christmas.. I developed severe depression and nearly 12 months later I’m still battling this condition, having medication and regular psycho-therapy. Did you know that almost one in four young Australians living with type 1 diabetes struggles with long-term depression? No one wants to talk about this but it’s yet another complication of diabetes.

I’m old enough to really understand and fear the other complications that might come later….

These include: retinopathy, kidney failure, amputation, heart disease, stroke…

Heart disease accounts for 50% of all deaths among people with diabetes

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults 20-74 years old

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for over 40% of cases each year.

Over 40% of people with type 1 diabetes develop severe kidney disease by the age of 50.

About 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage.

People with diabetes are 15 to 40 times more likely to require a lower-limb amputation compared to the general population.

Diabetes is the sixth highest cause of death due to disease in Australia.

Overall, the risk of death among people with diabetes is about 2 times that of people without diabetes. However, the increased risk is greater for younger people.

It is good to know that JDRF are working so hard to find ways to prevent and treat these complications and ultimately find a cure.

But I also have to deal with what happens now. I had a bad hypo awhile back and my brother thought I was dead. Now my parents are even more protective than ever, which is not cool!

What keeps me going is the news that researchers are making incredible advances towards a cure each year. All they need is a bit of funding to keep them going. I know I am standing in the middle of a political arena but this is an issue that goes way beyond party politics.

I don’t want your sympathy, just your support. Support for a cure.

This speech left such a lasting impression on me; I guess as a parent of a child who was a baby when diagnosed, the majority of the public look at him and see a picture of health standing befote them, and they struggle to see where the “health” problem lies considering his robust appearance.

However, I look at my son, and I see the blood samples that are collected from his arm every three months, the visits to the optometrist that leave me physically ill, waiting for the doctor to speak after thoroughly looking into Lance’s eyes in case he finds “a bleed.” I hold his hand, and feel his calloused, scarred little fingertips. I am constantly thankful for the lifesaving properties of a glucagon injection after a severe hypo. When his blood sugar is back to normal, we usually go through 24 hours of fierce headaches, light sensitivity and vomiting that almost always requires a drip, as he becomes terribly dehydrated. The morning I found him cold and blue in his bed at just under 3 years of age; he had slept through a severe hypo. Out trip to Canberra made me feel like we belong to a “Society” that knows all too well about complications, the stigma attached to having to prick your finger and how a drop of blood instills fear into ignorant folk, thinking that a blood borne disease could be contracted by sitting near a child who has Type 1 Diabetes. The stigma of depression is real and blatantly considered to be a “take a pill and it will go away” or ” You just need to remember that there are so many people worse off than you” brush off. Who wouldn’t be depressed at having to go through all of these procedures and knowing that you could be blind in your 20’s, have a heart attack in your 30’s..it’s a condition that constantly eats away at you. It’s difficult to hope for the best, because the best is so far away. The worst is already happening for Lance, and for you, regarding complications. It is fantastic to see surveys about being a carer circulating, and organisations such as Beyond Blue are recognising the difficulties associated with the upkeep of a chronic disease, and fighting off long term depression-finally a step in the right direction.

When were you first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes? May 15 1996

Are you on insulin injections or do you have an insulin pump? 3^rd pump so far over 5-6 years . I had injections for first 6 years and HATED every one.

Is your endocrinologist a happy little camper at your 3 monthly visits? I have just started seeing a new guy (endo for last 12 years just retired). I have been very lucky compared to some peoples’ stories. My old endo was always encouraging, he never said I was “bad” –it was always “the best we can do at the moment” even when things were terrible or my HbA1C was 11.3 (just before I started on the pump). The new Endo was good at first visit and is also encouraging already.

How long have you been a JDRF Youth Ambassador? Since around 2001.

I know your fam are amazing fundraisers…do you get involved in any projects as well, such as Walk For A Cure? Every single one. Dad says it’s a sacred day for the family & everything else gets cancelled so we can go. Im supported by IBM (they have supported Youth Ambassadors for many years now) & Boral. I try to help as an ‘adult’ (!) now by handing out prizes, selling raffle tickets and the like. I’m usually involved in some media promotion too– radio or TV/film at the walk.

(Annette) When he was little, Gareth was always amazed that he couldn’t tell who had type 1 diabetes in the huge crowds. He thought it was funny to see so many glucometers at lunchtime though! We encouraged the event greatly as we felt Gareth needed to see that there were so many other quite “normal looking” other people that just happened to have type 1 Diabetes.

I speak at every JDRF Ball (been 4 so far) to get more support from well heeled corporate blokes - I love ‘em all, even though they are so much older than I; they treat me like an equal-crazy!

At what age or time period did you find Type 1 Diabetes become a social hinderance? To tell the truth, I can’t really remember. Obviously having it at a quite young age it is hard to remember the exact details of the situation ,but it pretty much became obvious to me as I started to get older and learn more about the disease, the more things I had to actively think about and try to take care of as best as I could. Sure, I had Mum at home and at a lot of the places I went, as you do as a littley, but she wasn’t always around to give a hand at school during the middle of the day for example. Problems would often come up and every day was a new challenge for me.

Were you pretty open about telling people that you had Type 1 Diabetes? Yes and No. I can talk to some of my close friends openly about it, but then again there are still some friends I feel awkward about talking to. I’m not exactly sure why, it could be that it’s something i don’t feel the need to talk about or whatever, but i really dont know. People around me should know, so they can have a vague understanding of what sort of situation I’m in, but it’s also up to me to be able to take care of myself and not have to have them worry about it/have to think about it everytime I’m with them. It’s not really their ‘job’ because in theory i should be all good, but sometimes things don’t turn out so great. I’m very grateful for my friends’ concerns and that they do understand. Not everything is so simple though….

When you had episodes or bouts of depression, would they flare up and then die back or were they there, big and black all the time? Full blown all the time, I couldn’t get away from it.

Did you have any obvious symptoms that indicated that you were a candidate for depression? Well, I guess I wasn’t the one who noticed it because it came on as a gradual thing, sort of like growing, it’s always the grandparents or someone like that who notices and not yourself . But i guess my family were a little concerned with it to start with, i don’t remember a lot of it because it was just such a dark time for me, but my friends noticed too. Some tried to talk to me about it, but being your typical arrogant teenager at the time, I told them I could deal with it or nothing was wrong, which is pretty much the total opposite of what was happening.

(Annette I could write a book about this now! He’s right - parents were about the last to admit (see) the symptoms – it’s pitiful now in retrospect – embarrassing to say you were the parent – we need so much more educating! I feel/felt such a failure.

When you were diagnosed with depression, were you initially shocked/angry/upset/? You could say I was upset, but then again i was upset the whole time I was going through it. Everything I looked at, I saw the negative side to it, even if it was something like the blue sky, i just couldn’t handle anything or even understand what was going on properly.

So, whilst dealing with this, was it tough looking after Type 1 Diabetes continually demanding attention from you all day long? It was a challenge in the fact I totally stopped caring, even if I got sick, felt terrible, made it hard for people around me, whatever. I was completely blind to everyone around me trying to help me, but also to the fact that I had so much support that went unnoticed by me because of such single mindedness, and not caring about anyone. It made more work for everyone around me too, having to do what I should have been doing myself but wasn’t, even the simplest of tasks.

Your family are an amazing support network to you. Did anyone click that there may be something wrong, or did you have to tell them how you were feeling? The former, i had no idea in the world what was going on til it was too late. I was taken to psychologists and psychiatrists and God knows who else..one after the other, to try and sort the problems out. Same with the medication, I started to hate it too, I didn’t think I needed it so I’d not take it for days on end and that would cause more havoc among the family.

Did you have a supportive medical network? I still do to this day.

Is there one particularly dark moment (more so than others) that you remember whilst suffering depression? There is no solid memory i can recall, but there’s enough fragments to last a lifetime…

You’ve tried both medication and counselling. Was it really difficult to have to wait up to 6 weeks for a tinge of improvement? It was hell, yes, I tried both the medication and the therapy/counselling but I didn’t feel it really helped (even though it obviously has..) The medication was ridiculously slow to actually have any noticeable effect on me so I didn’t think much of that. The counsellors trying to help- I thought they were just like little machines that had a response to every answer I could think of, or any question I had. None of them except one, had a good run with me I don’t think. They didn’t seem to help anyway.

When did things first start improving? About when I finished Grade 12. I got away from everyone and everything, I wasn’t really cut out for being in school because I hated the place to death, but I stayed for the sake of it. When the time did come around, I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders, but also the fact that I could almost ’start over’ . A whole new world opened up for me so i guess im lucky in that sense.

You sound like you are strong in spirit at this moment. Is it true what they say about “you’ve just got to give it time…?” As much as I know anyone who is in the same position as I was doesn’t want to hear this and will probably just ignore me for saying it, time is life. There’s no quick and easy way to just ‘fix’ it, its not really like a car and if something’s broken you just mess with it for a while and it will be fixed, its something human and living, you can’t get around it.

Can you suggest what somebody experiencing any of what you have been through should do first? Talk to those around you, and tell somebody how you are feeling. It may help rather than an outsider’s assistance..

What about if you notice symptoms in a school friend?? It’s hard to notice at school because there is so much going on…,someone could be in a terrible state, but everyone may think they are stressed out from exams…or a detention later that day….or whatever the reason may be. If you CAN, talk to the person you are concerned about, if you can’t, find someone who can..it may be just enough to stop them falling apart…

If I could give you two tickets to any band/singer in the world, who would you go and see, and who would you take with you?? That’s a terribly hard question for me to answer! There are so many bands out there right now that I’d love to see..a LOT come to mind but if I could pick ANY band in the world and be able to give the tickets away, I’d give them to a few close friends of mine and let them enjoy the time, with the band of their choice. I find supporting friends/family is one of the greatest things a person can do for them.

If you are feeling any emotions or having moods that sound similar to what Gary went through, OR if you are concerned that your child may be depressed, there is help close by until you get a medical opinion.

By contacting any of these organisations, you will be taking your first step to helping yourself.

Beyond blue
www.BeyondBlue.org.au Complete our checklists to get an understanding of depression/anxiety

Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800

Lifeline Australia - Lifeline Information Service

(Annette) “I’m not sure Gareth understands the power of his presentations yet; he just thinks it’s what he needs to do to help. At the time he was still “in” the depression & lots passed him by. For example: A few weeks after Kids in the House, he went with the Band from school to USA & Canada (I went too) – he doesn’t remember more than 10 minutes of the whole 3 weeks – such is the power of anti-depressant medication (especially when it’s not the right one). Hell continues …

I offer my heartfelt thanks to Gary and Annette Eldershaw, for sharing the living proof of how depression can appear from nowhere. 1 in 3 Australians will suffer from depression at some time in their lives, however, I tend to think that it affects every person-the real difference is the varying degrees of severity in each case and how it affects your overall wellbeing. If you are suffering from a Chronic Illness other than Type 1 Diabetes, you feel like your quality of life is suddenly impaired, and you feel entrapped and unable to embrace life as you once did, the above contacts are all excellent in regards to putting you on the right track. Once you know what you are dealing with, your medical support team and family will want to assist you in any way they can.

I am concluding this interview with an excerpt from a speech that Gary wrote and delivered at a fundraising event last year. His family are so devoted with helping him regain serenity once again. After all, he is a young man, who through no fault of his own, has missed out on having a happy, carefree childhood, and then to ice the cake, his teenage years have been laced with misery as well. Any chronic disease plus debilitating depression thrown in for good measure is a devastating combination. The excellent news is that you can recover from depression. It can be a rocky ride, however Gary Eldershaw is a perfect example of a young person who refused to give up on himself, and how the love and support of his family was paramount in pulling him out of the murky swamps he was embedded in. Today, he still lives with Type 1 Diabetes, but he has learnt to be Gary again. He is living a tranquil and relaxed life. The chaos is over, hopefully never to return.

An excerpt from Gary’s speech, delivered at the JDRF Gala Ball, 2007.

“We all had our lives and our families shattered by those 3 little words …”you’ve got diabetes”.…….. From that moment on our lives have been consumed by the relentless barrage of insulin injections ….just to keep us alive (remember that insulin is NOT a cure)…… Relatives and friends are constantly watching over us to make sure we eat food at the right time,….. don’t have a hypo,…….. and have our injections ……..and lots more.

At the last JDRF Ball, I told every one of my very personal hardships and recent complications of type 1 diabetes, of which one has been a struggle with severe depression…. Since then I’ve attended a symposium where people with diabetes were able to anonymously give details of their complications and fears……. Guess what….. I’m not alone…….. But few have been prepared to speak out or even have the opportunity to speak out.

Despite medication and psycho-therapy I have suffered several more depressive episodes since then…… I have the physical scars on my body of my attempts at self-harm……. I will have them for a long time … as a constant reminder of this dreadful disease….. As if all the needles were not enough of a reminder!”

In 2006, Lance was a shadow of the robust, handsome wordsmith that he is today. He was nominated by an anonymous member of the community to receive a gold medal and certificate at the annual Lion’s Club Children Of Courage Awards.

This year, he was invited back to receive a Bravery award as he was acknowledged by members of the Lions Club for the awareness he has created and the passionate stance of making others aware of the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes since receiving that first award as a 5 year old.

We took our places, whilst I read the procedings for the afternoon. As my eyes ram down the page, I was temporarily stuck on one name-MINE!! My name, with Special Guest Speaker written in bold print beside it. I had agreed to bring Lance’s assistance dog, and for him to receive his certificate, but NO mention had been made of  an impromptu speech!!! I looked around for the Secretary in desperation, hoping that I could catch his eye and ask him what exactly he wanted me to “guest speak” about. Alas, he wasn’t there, and procedings were about to commence.

I have spoken in public on more occasions than I care to remember. In fact, I LOVE getting on my soapbox and speaking about Type 1 Diabetes and the misconceptions surrounding it! I have performed the lead role in plays, musicals, performed and conducted in concerts in front of thousands of people and taught a variety of ages in a variety of subjects. I am lucky enough not to experience nervous moments, especially when speaking about something as passionate to me as Type 1 Diabetes and Lance.

However, I had been caught unawares…I quickly grabbed my Dad’s obligatory JDRF pen from his pocket, and began scribbling some notes on my program, quietly seething as the seconds ticked away.

The presentation had begun. There were approximately 10 recipients, all who suffered from shocking disabilities that caused much hardship to their families, and from which there was no escape. Yet every little face was dancing with bright, proud eyes and beaming smiles.

 The boy in front of me was my own secret hero. At the age of 5, he found his mother unconscious in her bed. Except she wasn’t unconscious. She was in a Diabetic Coma. He had been taught by his Mum how to call 000 in an emergency ( for American readers, 000 is our equivilent to 911,) and remarkably, he recognised that his Mum was  not just sleeping, and called the ambulance immediately, undoubtedly saving her life.

I clapped with fierce pride as he received his well deserved medal and certificate. I listened to the adversities that the other children had been through. I recognised the exhausted, empty eyes of their parents, and their lifeless expressions. I felt as though I was with like-minded people, who understood the trials of caring for a child and a life threatening medical condition, day in, day out.

Then I was introduced to speak about who knows what.

There was thunderous applause as I made my way to the podium.

Oh boy, what am I doing up here!!!! I’m gonna have to bluff my way through this one…

A few camera flashes went off, and I gazed at the sea of faces, all waiting in anticipation for me to speak.

I saw Lance, standing up in the corner, giving me the “thumbs  up” sign. He was as proud as punch.

I began in a clear tone, ensuring that I was projecting my voice to the back of the room.

“2008 marks my only son’s 6th year living with Type 1 Diabetes. Many people think that a change of diet can irradicate this metabolic disorder, or that insulin is a cure. It’s not. Insulin certainly keeps people who suffer from Diabetes alive, but it must be administered by injection, several times a day. Therefore, 2008 equates to over 6000 injections in my son’s short life.”

( I have written this speech many, many times. I didn’t need notes-it was just a matter of recalling out loud the many letters that I have written to politicians in my time.)

“Without a cure, my son faces blindness or irreversible eye problems, kidney disease, stroke, early heart disease or even limb amputation. I work tirelessly every year to ensure that his twenty-first birthday present sees him about to embark on an overseas trip with friends, and celebrating his newly discovered independence. I have a deep passion to ensure that potential complications that arise from Type 1 Diabetes are halted, and I want the same for the 5 children who will be diagnosed today within Queensland….”

I stopped, and the room was silent. My throat was tight. Tears were spilling down my face,staining my notes that were covered in scrawl.. What was happening? I continued to try and speak, however each word was choked with grief. I felt my chin begin to tremble, and I soon began sobbing. I was inconsolable within seconds.

The silence in the room was deafening. I held up my hand, trying to give a sign to the audience that I was trying desperately to compose myself. I turned my head and buried it in my long hair, and the sobs soon became audible. I didn’t even care who heard them. There was another prolonged moment of silence. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my father stand up from his seat, hurriedly approaching me. He tried to take my notes away from me, and attempted to take over. I pulled them back, and smiled at him through my tears. He embraced me warmly, and it seemed to recharge me. I felt as though I owed Lance to finish what I started. My Dad stood with me as I recommenced-I was annoyed that my voice was still quivering.

“Lance received this award when he was 5 years old. It gave him a tremendous amount of self-esteem and he recognised for the first time that he was a child that possessed an extraordinary amount of courage. He has since appeared on National News, appeared in various articles in many publications, and has spoken live on radio in an attempt to raise awareness about this often misunderstood condition.”

(I tossed my hair with confidence, and cleared my throat as an indication that I had fully regained composure.)

I went on to mention how Lance had visited Parliament House in Canberra, Australia to speak directly with Hon Ian Macfarlane MP. He asked him face to face if he would promise to remember him when the Federal Governnent  allocates funding at budget time to medical research. He did promise to remember Lance. My little boy was then fortunate enough to listen to our previous Prime Minister speak about the cruel nature of Type 1 Diabetes, and how much respect he had for the parents of young children living with this condition. Lance then had a photo with him. It was a moment that spoke volumes.

I proudly announced that through sheer determination and patience, that my son, under my supervision, had doorknocked, and raised over $2000 for JDRF Australia in May 2007, which is National Jelly Baby Month. In total, through my letter writing, and from my son recounting his story to various members of the community, he has raised over $5500, which goes directly to finding a cure, through developing trials, and funding groundbreaking research that enables scientists to unlock the mystery of why Type 1 Diabetes is becoming the silent epidemic.

I then introduced Chino, Lance’s Assistance Dog, who was fast asleep in the sun that was streaming through the window. People were fascinated about how Chino allieviated Lance’s distress during hypoglycaemic attacks.

At last, I concluded. I looked up, and saw many red noses and tear stained faces. Parents, children, Lions Club members alike, had all felt the pain that had inconveniently decided to emerge at such an inappropriate occasion. The whole time, my beautiful son stood beaming at me, willing me on by continuing his thumbs up sign, this time with both hands. As I took my place, he wrapped his arms around my neck,and planted a kiss on my cheek, which set off the row behind us. There was much snortling and blowing into tissues.

After the procedings were over, there was an afternoon tea. Lance was less than impressed with a plate of just fruit, as everything that looked delectable would have been full of sugar, but more importantly, made with wheat flour.

I spoke to many people who commended me on my speech despite the unexpected mini-breakdown. A lady came and told me about her mother, who has had Type 1 Diabetes for over 40 years, and how she had no complications, and led a full, happy life. I nodded politely, declining to tell her about how difficult these new developments have made our life. (You will never know just how much food contains gluten or wheat until you spend an hour in the supermarket reading labels…)

The highlight of my afternoon was speaking to the young hero who saved his Mum from a possible fatality. He is now in his first year of high school, however, he remembers that day as if it happened yesterday. He told me that he can look at his Mum, and know immediately if she is hypo, he virtually matches the glucometer everytime. Tragically, he told me that  both of his mother’s kidneys are failing, and that she is quite unwell. His grandmother intervened at this point and suggested her grandson get something to eat. He was hesistant to leave, but soon found Lance. ( I was touched yet saddened to see him out of the corner of my eye feeling Lance’s skin for clamminess, and suggesting that he should have a drink after such a long ceremony.) His grandmother told me that it was exactly 21 years after diagnosis when her daughter’s kidneys began to show abnormal results in her 3 monthly urine tests. She has deteriorated very quickly, and for a brief moment whilst she was speaking, I felt like I recognised this woman. I studied her face, and suddenly realised that she was me, only 30 years older. There was pain etched across her face as she admitted that she no longer had control anymore over how Diabetes effected her daughter’s life, and in hushed tones, how things weren’t looking good for her; the doctors had told her that by the time a transplant was a possibility, that she would be long gone. I looked at her grandson, who had returned, and quickly changed the subject, changing the focus onto his newly aquired medal, again showering him with praise for his heroic deed. 

His grandmother shook my hand upon departing and she concluded with, “Yes, that Type 1 Diabetes is a beggar of a thing. The trouble that it has caused… I’ll pray that your son has some incredible breakthrough to look forward to. But yes, it’s just taken over, it will leave me without my daughter, and my grandson without a mother. It’s a hard life, Kate, and personally, I’ll be glad when it’s over, for her sake. There’s only so much that a person can go through, and she’s had more than her fair share of suffering.” Her voice trailed off, and she took her grandson’s hand, and told him how they were ready to leave.

As they walked out the door, the boy turned his head, and gave me a knowing smile. He and I had something in common, that was an unspoken secret . We are both carers of a loved one with Type 1 Diabetes. He had grown up, nursing his mother through hypoglycaemic attacks, and living the reclusive life of a carer. He was growing anxious to return home to his Mum, his medal and certificate were now secondary. He was more concerned for his mother’s wellbeing whilst he was gone. I knew exactly how he was feeling, no matter how wrong it was that a 13 year old cared for his mother on a full-time basis, I identified with him, as I find it difficult to enjoy myself after a certain amount of time away from Lance.  Horror scenarios begin to run through my head, and even though I berate myself for doing it, I will often ring up my parents and ask for a blood sugar number. So many times, he will be 5 or 6 mmol/L, and my father will reason that he is in fantastic spirits, and how there is nothing wrong with him. However, Lance knows that 5 or 6 mmol/L means drop everything and get something to eat.

I learnt a lot that day. I realised that people who care for or live with Diabetes speak and understand a silent language.

This post is dedicated tp my new 13 year old hero, who has not only saved his mother’s life once, but probably does it regularly by monitoring her blood sugar levels and treating hypos regularly, but without the recognition.  I’m not sure if he is aware that Diabetes will ultimately take his young mother from him soon, but his courage and unconditional love for her was so touching and a rare quality for a 13 year old to possess-I hope I find him again in my travels.

Lance and I are both keen and passionate recyclers.

I love to see him peering under bottles or on the back of packets looking for this symbol.

He will race straight to our recycling bin and tell me that he has saved a can or a piece of paper.

I am obsessive when it comes to recycling. I always feel triumphant when my recycling bin is brimming over and my garbage bin contains only household scraps.

Therefore, Lance and I were very impressed when we noticed “the symbol” on the packaging of something we have to have in our possession, like it or not.

An empty box of Accu Chek Performa Strips.

Not only that, but the plastic container that holds the strips can also be recycled!

In these photos are an empty vial and box from a used batch of lancets. Accu Chek packaging can be recycled, which means very little to the average person, but a lot to passionate recyclers!

Diabetes cost the Goverment billions of dollars each year. It is a small but positive step that drug companies are going green in regards to their packaging being recyclable. Some days it’s tough to think of anything good about having Diabetes, but my son and I were both excited about the “symbol” appearing on essential Diabetes equipment.

Insulin is not a cure.

Sometimes, I am amazed at the things that Lance has learnt, simply from having Diabetes.

 I can recall him from the age of 2-and-a-half,  counting down from 1o whilst his glucometer read his blood.

“Ten, Nine, Eight, Seben, Six, Five, Four, Free, Two, One- 7.8!! ( With Applause, of course.)

Lance gained a very early understanding of the Decimal System. He knows that there are numbers between consecutive numbers. He’s always rattling of his 4,2’s and his 22.5’s and he can remember that he was 8.4 at the airport and 16.5 at the shoe store. Ingenious!

Lance dislikes it when people are watching with great anticipation for his result, and they hear the beep, and they say“Is it bad, man? Or are things good to go?” His reasonings for this is that the terms “high,” “low.” and normal” should be used. He feels this way because once when he was really low, another little girl with Type 1 Diabetes announced to the whole of the airport (no microphone for her!) “Oh we are not going anywhere! Lance is really bad, he’s 1.9mmol/L.” Of course, being in a severe hypoglycaemic state, he thought that everyone had just found out that he had done something “bad” and began to cry. We have no good’s and bad’s in our house.

People get nervous when Lance is around them and it’s food time. When they ask him what he would like to eat (One Mum asked him if he was ALLOWED to eat!!) , he worked out how many carb exchanges in 2 pieces of wholemeal bread and ran off with the other kids.

Lance is highly skilled at operating a glucometer. He can put new batteries in and take the old ones out, he is a walking trouble shooting directory, and has explained to elderly folk who have just bought a glucometer for the first time how to use it. They look at him incredulously, and reply , “Ohhhh so THAT’s what the pharmacist was trying to say!”

Instead of the usual drone of “Muuum! I can’t eat anymore!”

I get,”Muuuum! I ate all of my carbs and vegetables, see? I just didn’t feel like the chicken.”

A lot of kids are allowed a ‘treat’ night on one night of the week. I hear this whilst shopping regularly. “OH I can’t wait until we have chips and lollies on the weekend!!”

Lance is just as happy with ,”I’m really looking forward to my donut in November!!

Here’s one to look at in the meantime, honey.

Mum woke up this morning and heard a bird squawking very loudly and persistently. It was still very early, so she went outside to investigate.

Nothing.

She went back to bed.

This afternoon, Chino went on Mum’s garden bed. I shooed him away, because he knows he is not allowed on there. That’s when I saw it.

“MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUM!!!!”

She was out the door in 5 seconds. She asked me what was wrong and why I was crying. She was even feeling my bones to see if they were broken or if I had a temperature!

“Look!”

Chino had  found a little baby pee wee in the garden. It was trying very hard to get up and fly away. It was squarking a lot but everytime it moved, it just fell to the ground again.

Mum ran and got an old towel. Mum had to be very quiet whilst she tried to capture it. She gently put the towel around him and wrapped him up, and carried him inside.

I was allowed to nurse him whilst Mum rang the vet. The pee wee had stopped crying out, and it was looking at all of the furniture in our home. Mum said we had to get straight to the vet. She got Chino ready and I said a prayer for the pee-wee. He didn’t look well at all. I had a very suspicious feeling that he might be going to heaven soon.

We rushed to the vet and a lady vet greeted us. She unwrapped the peewee and its tummy had been attacked. It also had a broken leg.

” A cat did this, there are puncture marks everywhere.” I thought of Luna sitting at home and I was so upset with him.

The vet said that she was going to put the pee wee on anti-biotics to see if there was any improvement, but she said it didn’t look good. She told me I could ring up tomorrow and if he was ok, I could go and visit. Mum said we should probably wait a while before we visit because he had been through a big shock.

On the way home, my heart hurt. The vet said that it was only about 3 months old, and it had spent almost 8 hours in pain, lying in the garden. That pee wee is the bravest soul I have ever met.