We are Paul, Nancy, and John Czekanski. We are a family with a type 1 child – an amazing child who doesn’t let a disease get in his way.

Our family had been traveling oversees when John first started showing “symptoms.”  At the time, though, we did not know about symptoms – sudden anger, loss of bladder control, thirstiness. Amazing how quickly we learned. John was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes shortly after his third birthday, on Tuesday, November 29, 2005.

In December of that same year, we visited the pastor who had performed our marriage ceremony in Texas. Being the amazing person he is, he researched type 1 diabetes and found Breakthrough T1D for us. He made us promise we would contact our local chapter and get our “Bag of Hope.” We did and soon after began to get involved.

We initially chose the Walk to Cure Diabetes as it was aimed at kids. It was a great way for John to be involved along with us. The first year we walked we had quite a small team – we were just getting our feet wet. The second year was much more interesting as John was older and could help with our T-shirt design. That was also the first year we had a table outside our local grocery store; John raised over $800 that year asking everyone for donations to help him find a cure for diabetes. This was also the year when he also asked: “Where on the walk will we find that cure?” Well, we are still looking for it – it’s why we continue to do what we do.

I’ll never forget the second year we walked. The venue was the parking lot of the Lansdowne Hospital in Northern Virginia. John was 4 years old and had been asked to be a VA Walk Ambassador. I was asked if I thought he’d say a few words to all the walkers at the event. Never a shy child, he was excited about the idea. He refused to tell me what he was going to say. I was a bit worried as, remember, he was only four years old. Well, the day of walk — with a Congressman, a Washington Redskin player, Breakthrough T1D officials, and all the walkers looking at him – I held him up to the microphone and he proceeded to tell thank everyone for being there. He thanked them for donating and helping to find a cure. I don’t remember everything he said, but I do remember seeing a LOT of people with tears in their eyes. Sure wish I had a videotape of that moment! Luckily I do have a picture!

Now, John does things every other child could do:

• he is currently a red belt in Tae Kwan Do,
• he runs with the Dranesville Dragons running club at his school,
• he plays viola in the Herndon/Reston Area Youth Orchestra,
• he is a Boy Scout  and also loves to read,
• he loves to play with his friends.

John also does things every other child could do – but luckily, they don’t have to:

• he checks his blood sugar 5-10 times a day,
• he wears an insulin pump 24 hours a day,
• he carries a blood glucose meter and insulin pump supplies in his backpack and takes it with him everywhere he goes,
• he volunteers as a Youth Ambassador with Breakthrough T1D,
• he feels ‘low’ sometimes after he exercises or when his carbohydrate intake is miscalculated, and
• he goes ‘high sometimes after he exercises or when his carbohydrate intake is miscalculated.

It gets confusing and frustrating. This is why we volunteer for Breakthrough T1D.

Working with Breakthrough T1D is a life-changing experience – regardless of whether or not you have a connection to type 1 diabetes. We are in our 8^th year volunteering and raising funds and awareness for type 1 research. The individuals working at the local chapters give 100+% in everything they do, AND they do their all with a smile and with a thank you! Not every organization welcomes their volunteers the way Breakthrough T1D does. Breakthrough T1D is an international organization that has a local/hometown feel.

Breakthrough T1D gave John, and our family, an opportunity to meet others – of all ages – living with this disease. He has learned so much, as have we. Volunteering and getting involved has no negative side effects. Not getting involved delays the finding a new treatments and a potential cure.