Megan and I are honored to once again co-chair the 2024 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Arkansas Chapter, One Party. During this event we strive to raise awareness and funds to help turn Type 1 into Type NONE! We have had much to celebrate over the years, with advancements in research and technologies to treat this chronic disease, but we have not yet reached our goal (a world without type 1 diabetes). As a result, we will continue fighting for a cure, and will never giving up. That is what we are reminded of at the Breakthrough T1D One Party.
Our connection with T1D started almost 20 years ago when I myself was diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic. After returning from studying abroad my Junior year of college, I returned home and noticed blurry vision, unexplained weight loss, and extreme dehydration. With little knowledge of Diabetes and no known family member with the disease, I was unprepared for the diagnosis that would likely stick with me the rest of my life. This news, and my “new normal,” would pale in comparison to the news that recently hit Megan and I.
On July 22 2019, our son, Teddy, was diagnosed with T1D. I can say without a doubt that was harder to accept than my own personal diagnoses. Watching our 2 year old have his finger pricked every day up to 10 times a day, changing sites for his Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and giving shots with every single meal pulls on your heart as a parent more than we could imagine. The scary night time low blood sugars that prevent parents from ever getting true restful night in fear you might not hear the glucose alarm that could save your son’s life. Perhaps answering the question of “Why?” is the most difficult thing of all. As parents, we are determined to fight for a cure for our son, and the millions of others living with T1D. Soon the question of “Why?” will be “Remember when?”
As Co-Chairs, Megan and I put a lot of our efforts toward Fund-A-Cure Program, where 100% of the money goes to research expenditures and are entirely tax-deductible. If you are attending the One Party on June 1st, you may participate then, or you can make your contribution prior to the event online. If you would like to designate your gift in honor or memory of someone, please note that on the form and the Breakthrough T1D Office will send an acknowledgement card to the individual(s).
Research is the heartbeat of Breakthrough T1D, and we are closer than ever to finding a cure for those living with T1D. Please know that in the meantime the technology we now have is unmatched and that is because of Fund A Cure and the donations you give. It truly makes living with T1D a little bit easier. We hope to see you at the One Party on June 1st. It will be an evening to remember as we hope it will be our last… because we hope Type 1 is Type NONE by 2025.
Brad & Megan Delco
To donate to Fund a Cure gift on behalf of Brad & Megan Delco, visit HERE.
