{"id":7684,"date":"2023-07-31T19:51:48","date_gmt":"2023-07-31T19:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/northernflorida\/?p=7684"},"modified":"2025-12-05T20:23:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T20:23:53","slug":"heart-to-heart-t1d-caregiver-spotlight-kimberly-brewer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.breakthrought1d.org\/northerngulfcoastfl\/2023\/07\/31\/heart-to-heart-t1d-caregiver-spotlight-kimberly-brewer\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart to Heart: T1D Caregiver Spotlight \u2013 Kimberly Brewer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>July\u2019s \u201cHeart to Heart: T1D Caregiver Spotlight\u201d is on Kimberly Brewer from Lakewood Ranch, Florida! She has a wonderful husband, two children, and a Mother-in-Law that she cares for daily.<\/p>\n

Kimberly\u2019s daughter, Ellie, was diagnosed with T1D at just seven years old in May of 2020. \u201cI’m sure you can imagine what that was like…\u201d says Kimberly. \u201cOh, did I mention at this time we lived in CA? Not the best of times to be in the hospital. Scary to say the least.\u201d Back then, Kimberly and her husband couldn’t even be with Ellie at the hospital at the same time.<\/p>\n

Now, 10 years old, Ellie has a heart of gold\u2014 she loves anything and everything art. She loves to draw and paint. Between making stop motion videos and doing gymnastics, this summer she taught herself how to crochet.<\/p>\n

As a stay-at-home mom, who loves her children and kids in general, Kimberly became a substitute teacher at her children\u2019s school. Being at the school has helped so much. \u201cI\u2019m there if Ellie needs me,\u201d explains Kimberly. \u201cBut not only her, we have two other students with Type 1 diabetes. I am able to step in for the nurse if she is out or can go on field trips as an acting nurse.\u201d<\/p>\n

One T1D diagnosis and a cross-country move later, the Brewer family has learned a lot about managing Ellie\u2019s diabetes the past three years. Below you will find more information about Kimberly and Ellie, as well as some\u00a0helpful, realistic advice about being a T1D caregiver:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout your child\u2019s T1D journey, what have been the biggest challenges you faced?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cTogether, the biggest challenge we’ve faced so far is making Ellie feel normal,\u201d says Kimberly. \u201cMaking sure it\u2019s kid before diabetes. We did a lot of crying as to \u2018why her?\u2019 (we still do a lot of crying).\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Kimberly states that her biggest challenge as a parent is probably every parent\u2019s challenge: dividing your attention between your children. While Ellie is trying to become more independent with her diabetes care, she still relies heavily on her mother to count her carbs, tell her when to bolus, change sites, and sensors. \u201cWhere does this leave my son?\u201d asks Kimberly. \u201cClawing for my attention, needing it. Making sure everyone is cared for and thriving regardless of Type 1 is my goal.\u201d<\/p>\n

While adjusting to life with a child with type 1 diabetes, are there certain things you found that helped you better manage their disease? What about something that helped give\u00a0you hope when you were just getting started?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>What helped Kimberly the most was her own personal research into nutrition. Prior to even having children, she knew how to read labels, and how carbs, fats, and proteins worked together. She claims that these skills laid a foundation to build upon when Ellie was diagnosed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHope came from finding people like us. Finding children like Ellie, to let her know she is not alone,\u201d explains Kimberly. \u201cGod graced us with a neighbor moving into Florida at the same time as us with a daughter who had T1D \u2014 that in itself has been truly amazing. I will be forever grateful in finding this chapter of Breakthrough T1D when we moved to Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n

What skills\/lessons has raising a T1D child taught you? For a parent of a newly diagnosed T1D, how would you compare those feelings to now?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

For the first few months of Ellie\u2019s diagnosis, Kimberly felt like she never slept \u2014 sitting up for hours, knowing her alarm was going to wake her to prick her finger at 2am. Then later, after getting Ellie\u2019s CGM, staring at her numbers and the graph. \u201cNow that we are 3 years in, I do sleep a little better,\u201d says Kimberly. \u201cAnd we have come to take the highs and lows as they come and go, breathing a little more calmly every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can you touch on why it\u2019s important for T1D caregivers to come together?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Kimberly believes that coming together with other parents and caregivers is truly amazing \u2014 \u201cKnowing someone is going through what you’re going through is extremely helpful. Finding someone in the same stage of diagnosis as you and finding someone further along to tell you \u2018It\u2019s gonna be okay,\u2019 touches something inside of us that only they know.\u201d<\/p>\n

Breakthrough T1D has many support groups for those living with T1D and their caregivers \u2013 for more information, visit\u00a0jdrf.org\/t1d-resources\/personal-support\/<\/strong><\/a>. If you\u2019re looking for local support in the Northern Florida area, send an email to\u00a0northernflorida@BreakthroughT1D.org<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and we will make sure you get connected with other families, support groups, and events we host throughout the year.<\/p>\n

What has Breakthrough T1D meant to\/done for your family?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cBreakthrough T1D has connected us with wonderful people, and lifelong friends,\u201d says Kimberly. \u201cWe have participated in so many events in the 2 short years we’ve been here: Tampa Walks, Sarasota Walks, the Gala events, local monthly Cups of Hope, and more.\u201d<\/p>\n

This past year, Ellie was selected to serve as one of Breakthrough T1D Northern Florida\u2019s Youth Ambassadors and was even invited to speak with Congressman Buchanan on the costs of insulin in the Promise To Remember Me Insulin Affordability Act. She has also been to Florida Diabetes Camp two years in a row and loves it!<\/p>\n

What is the most important thing you would want other parents of children with T1D to know?<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Kimberly had tons of advice for other T1D Caregivers! See below for some words of encouragement and guidance:<\/p>\n