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Diabetes Association, Inc. – A United Way Funded
Agency
Success Story
Five-year old Grace was diagnosed with Type 1
Diabetes just one week before her fourth birthday.
Today, the only indication of her condition are the
many brightly colored Band-Aids adorning her tiny
fingertips. Each time she checks her blood sugar,
Grace adds another Band-Aid to the collection, only
removing them when she has run out of fingers! Dad
finds a practical use--they serve as a reminder to
rotate her fingers frequently, but for Grace, they
seem to offer comfort in the midst of the finger
sticks and blood samples. When Grace initially
indicated that she want to attend Camp Kyle T.
Woodruff for Children with Diabetes, her father was
nervous about how she would do in a camp setting,
away from her parents and familiar day care
provider. His worries were quickly alleviated when
he saw that Grace was having a great time—making new
friends, creating a project in arts and crafts, and
especially swim time.
Patricia is a nursing student at CCRI, who
volunteered to counsel at Camp Kyle this summer for
a week in order to gain class credit. A requirement
for class was that Patricia would closely follow one
camper’s progress throughout the week in the area of
blood glucose monitoring. Drawn to her gentle and
shy nature, Patricia chose to work with Grace.
Patricia started off the week with observations
like, “Doesn’t try to go beyond getting [her] meter
etc.” and “Seems unsure as to how to use [a]
lancet.” Each day provided an improvement for Grace.
On the second day, Patricia was able to encourage
Grace to place the lancet device against her finger
on her own. Day three proved to be particularly
trying with extra blood glucose checking required to
treat high blood sugar levels. Later in the week,
Grace would have another high blood sugar and ask
about the necessary steps that needed to be taken.
On Thursday, day four, Grace was not only able to
hold the lancet device to her finger, but finished
the process and pricked her own finger. Friday’s
comment from Patricia read, “Yeah! Grace
independently checked.” By working with the campers,
volunteers are able to coach and encourage campers
to try new things, take new responsibility, and
understand their Diabetes better. Patricia and Grace
are just one example of how this happens at Camp
Kyle.
- The Diabetes Association and Camp Kyle T. Woodruff
are supported by the United Way of Greater New
Bedford. |
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