Friends of COMMIT-TED
One day early this Spring, Cheryl informed me that
since Theodore was diagnosed, we haven’t spent any quality time alone together. I quickly reminded her that, in fact,
we did. We went to Carmel in 2005, and Death Valley in 2006, to ride our bikes for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Without realizing it, I made her point. Tears welling up, she told me that everything we do revolves around diabetes. Wow.
I knew she was right, and after thinking about it for a few days, I knew I had to learn how to say ‘No” to doing
all the things I want to do to raise funds and help people with this disease. But what was I going to cut out? I couldn’t
imagine cutting anything.
Unfortunately, due to the necessary physical training
and the time required to actually do the training, we will not be participating in the 2007 JDRF Ride To Cure. This was extremely
difficult to let go, because quite honestly, I love the people involved and the purpose of the event. Nothing I have done
for diabetes can compare to the one-of-a-kind feeling I experience by pushing my own body to its dehydrated, painful limit
in the desert after 60 or 70 miles. It is at that point where everything comes together for me: how insignificant my sacrifice
compares to the reality of what this disease means to my son. And I could look around and know that there are others who feel
this same way, too!
But after realizing that letting this go was the best
decision for my family, Cheryl and I refocused our efforts, and concentrated on balance - Do what we can for diabetes, have
fun, but don’t let it consume our lives!
Organization News
Our New Logo
I wanted something special, that captures the message
of what this organization stands for. COMMIT-TED’s motto is Care For Today.... Hope For Tomorrow. The logo attempts
to convey this message by showing an adult holding a child, and at the same time having that child reach for the stars. Its
two-tone color scheme has the child and ‘TED’ in one color, keeping focus on the inspiration for this organization’s
existence; my son, Ted.
Postal Service
We now have a Post Office Box to handle event payments,
donations, and other official business. This has allowed us to separate organization business from our personal life, and
to facilitate in having other volunteers process Commit-Ted’s business. In addition, we have looked into obtaining Charitable
Bulk Mail Postage Status from the US Postmaster. The application is thick! We send out quite a bit of information by US Mail,
and as you know, postage is expensive at 41 cents. But with the hundreds of supporters on our list, for now, it makes sense
to pursue approval and pay the annual fee. Eventually, for the obvious reasons, we hope to transition to email.
Website
The groundwork is being laid to establish a simple website containing important links, event news, research
updates, email correspondence, financial statements, etc.... I hope to have it
available soon.
Fund-Raising
2007 Third Annual COMMIT-TED Golf Outing
It poured, and poured. But on June 23rd,
118 brave ladies and gents defied the odds and showed up to support our effort to raise funds for the benefit of juvenile
diabetes. To say that Cheryl and I were worried about a poor turn-out, is truly an understatement. If you participated in
this year’s outing, hats off to you, and thank you for your commitment and support. You helped us raise over $10,000!
2007 Dance For Diabetes
On November 9th, Commit-Ted will be hosting a fund-raiser at CD&ME in Frankfort. This is late 70's and
early 80's music. Dressing the part is strongly recommended! Commitments already received from Starsky, Hutch, and Huggy Bear,
as well as some of the Brady Bunch kids. So ladies, reach back into the depths of your closet and dust off something from
the era. Fellas, reach for something about three hangers over! See enclosure for more info! Please buy your tickets early,
as we have received very strong interest for this event. Hope you can make it!
Jewel Shop & Share
This summer, we had a trial run with this form of fund-raising. The organization earned $209 by obtaining 5% of sales
from shoppers submitting our donation coupon with their payment. We hope to learn from this trial run, and roll out a bigger
and better effort next time. Please keep an eye out for our coupon in future newsletters.
2007 Annual Donation Drive
Traditionally, Cheryl and I have sought your support to fund our JDRF Ride To Cure commitment, whereby we raise money
by attempting to ride our bicycles 100 miles in one day. As mentioned above, we will not be participating in the event this
year. But we still covet your support.
Importantly, the last thing I want to do is make you feel like I am imposing on you - constantly beating you up for
a donation. The reality is, I would appreciate a donation once a year from you - whatever you can contribute. Whether it be
for the golf outing, the dance, or other event, a little bit of help from a lot of people can make a big difference! Our annual
donation drive is meant for those of you who cannot participate in our events for whatever reason, but would still like to
contribute to our cause. These donations are 100% tax deductible! Please consider whether you can include COMMIT-TED
in your charitable giving this year. For your convenience, a donation coupon is included with this mailing.
Fund-Raising Efforts
Where do your donations go? What does COMMIT-TED support? Two things: (1) Research, and (2) Local support-group organizations
focused on Type I (juvenile-onset) diabetes. We will be making donations to organizations such as JDRF, the ADA, and
The Diabetes Connection. Of course, you could do that too, but with pooled resources, COMMIT-TED can have a significant impact
on specific programs.
For example, we support events which will hopefully bring more awareness to the disease, and ultimately bring in more
donations to benefit juvenile diabetes research and programs. This year, COMMIT-TED
supported two JDRF local programs, raising money for research. The rationale for such support is to hopefully pique
interest and support for these events in the future; to help them grow.
JDRF Day At The Windy City Thunderbolts
$800 donation to JDRF. On August 12th, COMMIT-TED sent 100 people to the baseball game in Crestwood by purchasing
100 tickets to this first time event.
Mokena Lions Poker Run To Benefit JDRF
$2,000 donation to JDRF. On September 15th, Commit-Ted will
match the rider donations for the first 100 paid entries to this first time event.
In addition, plans exist to support the ADA effort for an educational conference in the future, by sponsoring a prominent
guest speaker from Philadelphia on Type I diabetes. Proudly, Commit-Ted will also donate scholarships to the ADA’s week-long
Type I diabetes camp for underprivileged kids, who would not otherwise get to experience this life-lasting experience. I hope that this will help explain what COMMIT-TED does, as well as bring attention
to the value of your support.
Research
There is tremendous research happening all over the world, which includes universities, major corporations, and private
institutions. Lately, there has been a movement to collaboration, where experts in specific fields are beginning to share
their expertise with each other, and build toward a common goal: The Cure. In this issue, I want to tell you about one of
those efforts: Xenotransplantation (the transplant of non-human tissue into humans).
It concerns rare pigs from New Zealand, and human guinea pigs in Russia.
There are two major problems in curing Type I diabetes: rejection and supply. The body rejects any attempt to transplant
insulin-producing cells (Islet cells). Powerful, toxic, and potentially harmful drugs can overcome this issue to some degree,
but then there is the problem of obtaining enough islet cells for everyone. There is simply not enough.
The pigs are rare, because they were essentially isolated from human contact for two hundred years on remote Auckland
Island, 300 miles south of New Zealand. As a result, these pigs are virtually pathogen free. They can provide for a plentiful
source of islet cells which will not infect people. And to circumvent the rejection issue, the pig’s islet cells are
encapsulated, or surrounded in a gelatin-like seaweed extract. It provides a
barrier to the body’s rejection antibodies, yet, allows insulin to pass through to counter rising glucose levels.
The bottom line is this: Hopefully, one could go to have periodic out-patient implants of these pig cells, which would
alleviate the need, or reduce the amount for insulin delivered the conventional way. Basically, one would get regular tune-ups
to replace dying islet cells.
In Russia, the first patient (name unknown) received these encapsulated porcine cells on June 14th, with
the hopes of someday reporting to the world a new advancement in Type I diabetes therapy. Although the level of desperation
is not the same as what Leonard Thompson experienced, it nonetheless represents risk to be part of a human trial. And for
all those touched by this disease - we are grateful.
Teddy Update
Camp
This summer, Ted went to Type I diabetes camp at YMCA Camp Duncan, in Ingleside, Illinois. This was a week-long overnight
camp, exclusively for diabetic youth, ages 9 - 12. I believe this was an especially important social experience for him. Ted
has about four or five other diabetic children in his school. But at camp, he and 120 other kids were no longer the minority,
the people with a working pancreas were! He lived the week with a new found freedom, totally accepted by everyone there who
must monitor their blood, deliver their insulin, count their carbs, and manage their exercise, the same way he does each day.
Care
In past newsletters, I’ve explained extensively the new technology becoming
available for monitoring blood sugar levels. Finally, we are ready to integrate this into his daily care. We recently received
the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS), and are awaiting training. Once ‘hooked up’ this device will
automatically read Ted’s blood sugars every five minutes, and send the information to his insulin pump. At any time,
he can look at the digital display on his pump to see what his blood sugar level is. Its realtime, and it comes with threshold
alarms that we can set. If the blood sugar becomes too high or too low, and he is not aware, an alarm will sound. I cannot
tell you the hopes we have for this technology to help better maintain his sugar levels, and improve daily care. It realistically
could cut down his finger sticks to just two or three, from the current ten to twelve that he does each day. We understand that it can be challenging to use this new device, as others have decided that it is just
too much work. But, we’re optimistic and motivated!
School
I have been pushing
hard for in-classroom testing - for all kids with Type I diabetes in school. I have not yet been successful. I have an open
dialogue with the Superintendent, and he currently has asked the school’s legal counsel to look at the issue. Armed
with the fact that School Diabetes Care legislation is sweeping the nation, coupled with the pending legislation in the Illinois
State Senate (HB 146), I have presented the need for in-classroom blood sugar testing NOW. There is a tremendous movement
in Illinois to get mandated diabetes care in schools. Information can be found at TheCareAct.com.
In Closing
For your concern, support, commitment, and generosity, I thank you with sincerity. I appreciate what you have allowed
COMMIT-TED Inc. to become: an organization created for the benefit of juvenile diabetes! Hope to see you out there! BT
For Cheryl, Teddy, and COMMIT-TED’s volunteers,
Brian Trost
