[2010 JDRF Benefit]

Ellie - 12U - Shockerz

Ellie is a happy and outgoing 12 year old.  She loves being with her friends and her family and absolutely loves playing softball!  When Ellie was five she began playing t-ball and quickly fell in love with the game.  Her love of the sport soon brought her to a new team called the Bulldawgs.  She was ready to really learn the game and have fun with her teammates.  Then as Ellie was about to turn 7 and was getting excited about spring ball, she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  Our world changed.   There was so much to learn about this disease and the fear of the unknown took hold of our lives.  But we soon decided that no matter what, we were not going to let her think that this disease was going to stop her from doing anything!  We learned a lot over the next couple of months and soon it was time for softball.  We quickly realized that exercise and adrenelin were going to be big hurdles for us as these two factors greatly affect her blood glucose numbers.  But again we pushed on, not for a second letting her think that this was going to stop her.   We did pretty well that first year in large part because of the support from Ellie’s teammates and her coaches.
Just when we thought we had it all figured out, Ellie decided that she wanted to be a pitcher!  It was almost like starting over!   Ellie is now 12 and has been pitching for 3 years and is ready to pitch again for her team the Shockerz.   She has worked very hard and we are so very proud of her.  It has not been easy.  When she pitches, her blood glucose numbers drop low very fast.  Ellie has to eat several snacks in between innings and is constantly checking her blood sugar before, during and after she plays.  We have needed to call a time out a few times to treat a low blood sugar while she is on the field.  But she has persevered and through hard work and determination she is not letting Type 1 diabetes stop her! 
Every day we pray for a cure.  But while we are waiting for that day to come, we are not for a second going to let Type 1 Diabetes stop Ellie from going after her dreams!  She faces these challenges head on and is such an inspiration to us.  We truly admire these kids who not only have to face the challenges of competing but at the same time conquer the greater challenge of living with Type 1.  We will cheer them on every time!

Hallie - 16U - Midwest Express Blue

Hallie was diagnosed with diabetes on January 6th, 2006.  When she was first diagnosed with the disease she had to immediately fight the fear from her coaches and teammates that the diabetes would effect her ability to play softball.  Hallie led the way in trying to overcome those fears by trying to make everyone on her team understand that her diagnosis did not change who she was or what she was capable of accomplishing, only the way she had to manage her life.  Hallie is determined not to let diabetes define her.  If you call her a diabetic she is very quick to point out the fact that she is not "a diabetic", rather "a young girl with diabetes".  As Hallie says "Diabetes is a disease I have not who I am"!  Within a year of her diagnosis Hallie had her first DKA.  It was a Sunday and her sugars were a little high but her parents didn't worry too much.  She pitched a no hitter to win the tournament and the next morning she was in the hospital fighting for her life.  One week later she convinced her doctors to let her be discharged early in the day by telling them she would get some rest at home.  Instead, she insisted her parents bring her uniform and take her directly to the tournament her team was to play in so she could pitch the opening game.  Even though her coaches and parents were hesitant she insisted...and won the game.  She has never missed a single game.  She would never let her team down.  Hallie has pitched as many as 7 games in a single day for us in the middle of the sizzling summer heat!  Hallie has been a blessing to this team since joining us three years ago!  She is fiercely competitive, dedicated and tough, she doesn't understand the meaning of "can't"....she is definitely the leader and the heartbeat of this team.  We are truly blessed to have her as part of our lives. 

Shea - 12U - Extreme Softball Club

Having named our daughter after a major league baseball stadium (former home of the NY Mets), perhaps it was pre-destined that she would enjoy playing ball. Add in a sibling-like relationship with an older cousin, who just happens to be a pretty exceptional baseball player, and a competitive fire was lit in her heart at a pretty young age. Shea was enthusiastic about playing ball from the time she played her first T-ball game, sometimes maybe a little too enthusiastic! Besides her "Extreme" love of softball, Shea is soft hearted and hard headed, she’s quick to flash a smile and has a quirky sense of humor that it seems sometimes only she gets! She enjoys watching and playing sports (especially softball), reading, riding 4-wheelers, showing cattle, playing the wii, cooking, baking and, of course, picking on her little brother unmercifully. She’s fiercely loyal, frustratingly random and oh, yeah, a Type I diabetic....
Just over three years ago, after nearly 5 weeks of prolonged illness with vague varying symptoms, we found ourselves at Children’s Mercy Emergency Department with one very sick little girl. In fact, she was so ill and "out-of-it" that she has only vague recollections of that night. The first 12-14 hours were spent with Shea sleeping while receiving IV fluids and insulin. When she woke up she began, with the assistance of caring nurses and a wonderful diabetic educator, learning about Type I diabetes; what it was, how it affected her body and how she was going to control it, so it no longer controlled her. That’s a lot of information for an 8 year old to absorb!! But in true Shea fashion her response was, "I can do this. Yep, this is do-able, Mom." I don’t recall ever being more proud of my daughter than at that moment!
So from the beginning, Shea has been a very active participant in the management of her health. Learning to calculate, draw up and inject her insulin and later learning to use her insulin pump and real-time glucose sensor to more effectively monitor and manage her disease. She still has an occasional "why me" moment; pondering the unfairness of it all, but generally Shea is very aware of how lucky she truly is. Lucky to have access to the medical care & supplies she needs, lucky to possess the intelligence to understand how to manage her disease and extremely lucky to have the love, care and encouragement of supportive family and friends.
Last spring, our entire family was blessed to become acquainted with a group of people that became both friends and "family"...the players, coaches and families of the Extreme Softball Club from Ottawa, KS. Within the team "family" Shea has found encouragement, support, friendship, and camaraderie, both on and off the field. Shea was extremely excited to see the JDRF Benefit Tournament info on the MSP website and we immediately sent messages to her coaches asking if we could put this event on our spring schedule...Shea felt strongly enough about it that she raised the event entry fee on her own!! Shea is fired up about the opportunity to join with her teammates to showcase their dedication and passion for softball to benefit the JDRF, an organization just as passionate & dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes! We can’t wait to see you all there!!

Ryley - 12U - KC Blaze

Ryley was looking forward to the Monster Bash in October of 2007, but she wasn’t feeling like herself.  It became evident that she had all the classic symptoms of diabetes.  After two days in Children's Mercy Hospital, we were home facing life with testing strips, insulin, needles and carb counting.  Encouraged to get our lives back to “normal”, Ryley joined her team at the Monster Bash.  It wasn’t without it’s challenges, but we quickly discovered she could do it.

In the fall of 2008, Ryley tried out and was offered a position on a new team, the KC Blaze.  Since that time, KC Blaze has become family to us.  They have encouraged Ryley on her good days and are supportive when her blood sugar rises to 400, then crashes to 60 all in the span of a game.

Ryley played over 80 games and 13 tournaments with the Blaze last year with many great memories.  She played her first indoor tournament in Omaha, won the Kansas State 10U Championship, and finished 5th in the Branson USSSA World Series. The wins and trophies were great but the lasting friendships mean the most to Ryley and our family.

Since her diagnosis, Ryley continues playing basketball and softball at a competitive level, golfing, fishing, riding roller coasters and is a huge Kansas Jayhawks fan.  If you know her, playing and watching sports are her passion and we are grateful that diabetes didn’t take that away.

We were encouraged when a softball player with type 1 told us “God only allows the girls that are strong enough to beat diabetes, to fight that battle”.  We have been blessed to have her coaches and teammates on the KC Blaze help her on those tough days.

She has never said “why me?” and encourages us to do the same.  We know someday she will inspire other kids to overcome life’s setbacks, large and small.

We hope to meet other players and families at this tournament and thank the teams playing this week and MSP for choosing JDRF as a partner.

Emily - 12U - Diamond Skilz 98

Hi, my name is Emily and I turned 12 in March I play 12u b level softball, it's my favorite thing to do! I also like swimming, reading, and anything outdoors, although I do not like the cold! I am sometimes hard headed but my parents put up with it anyway!

Back in December over my Christmas break we went on a road trip to see my Aunt, Uncle and cousins and on the way down and back we were stopping constantly to get water and stop and use the restroom! My parents knew the signs and took me to my pediatrician the next day... From there, I was transferred to Children's Mercy and was checked in that night. I was in the hospital for three days two nights and I thank Children's Mercy so much. I had the nicest nurses and great nutritionists and awesome doctors to teach me how to control Type 1 diabetes.

When I was dismissed from the hospital all my friends were there for support and comfort and so was my family. It was amazing support, my cousins even came down from Chicago to see me the next day which happened to be Christmas! When I went back to school, some of my classmates were shocked. There are 3 other diabetics in my school and one of them is in my class. She is great support and helped me a lot! We have a great nurse and health clerk at our school and they always make me smile! My main concern was actually playing softball, we had eventually come to the conclusion of taking a break from playing just until we get everything under control. But I wasn't happy and I was soon offered a spot on a Diamond Skilz team.

I love the team I'm playing on and enjoy it very much. My teammates don't treat me any different than if I wasn't diabetic and my coaches are great and very supportive. What's great is that one of my coaches is an ex-Type 1 diabetic (kidney & pancreas transplant) who is amazing and very supportive! I am back to pitching and love it VERYVERYmuch. I have been pitching for about 4-5 years and have a great pitching coach who is also supportive and comforting! Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes has truly changed my life but has not stopped me from playing softball. We are still new to the insulin, the carb counting and many other new things but my parents have been great. I now have an insulin pump and enjoy it much better than shots! I just want to thank all of the people in my life that have been there for me!

Makynze - 14U - KC Vandals

In 2007 our lives took a dramatic change. Our daughter was was diagnosed wit type 1 diabetes on April 1st and NO it wasn't a joke.Makynze has always been a very athletic young girl,we started to notice that she was gaining some weight very fast,so we took her the doctor to make sure nothing was wrong,but everything was good. Then in the next couple of months she dropped the weight very fast and was having really bad head aches,drinking and using the restroom constantly. We went to get some breakfast one morning and she just didn't look right. My wife took her to restroom where she just went limp,we rushed her to OPRMC,the first thing they asked was,is she a diabetic. Thats when our lives changed,she was taken from OPRMC to Children's Mercy where she spent the next week. We were all very scared,didn't know what to do or where to begin. Thanks to great nurses,doctors and diatictions we've got it down,at first it was hard, having to count carbs check blood sugars through out the night and taking shots. Now she's on the Omni Pod insulin pump,I recommend this pump to any active type 1 child or adult,it is great.A lot had to change,no more just running to get a quick bite to eat,it takes a little longer now,even though our lives changed,we wouldn't have it any other way. Makynze has played in the KC VANDALS organization for the last 4 years,she loves being a Vandal,she recently joined the 14U Kc Vandals,she has played for the 12U Vandals for all the years before.I have to think all her coaches for being very understanding about her condition,not only understanding but very caring and really wanting to know and learn about Type 1 diabetes. We were very lucky to find a softball organization thats as caring as this one. We love all the coaches,players and parents. Makynze has never looked back,she's always giving 100%. She understands that she will more than likely live with this for the rest of her life. Hopefully one day we will find a cure.

At first she was scared her life was going to change,she didn't know how she was going to stay at her friends house's or play the sports she loves to play. I have to thank her friends parents for learning about her condition and taking all the right steps to make sure she had what she needed when she came over,they didn't have to do it but they did because they love her,if you were to look at her or any child with type 1 you would never know they had this disease. Her family has been her biggest supporter,Her Doh Doh and Grandpa have been there every step of the way, I don't know how my wife and I could have done it without them.Her grandpa Steele was also a type 1 diabetic and always had advice for her when she needed it,we were very fortunate to have someone so close that knew so much about what she was going through.We look forward to watching her for many years to come playing the game she's loves so much and not letting anything hold her back,defiantley not this.

Michaela - 12U - Mustangs

Michaela is an outgoing, quiet, loving 12 year old who doesn’t let anything get in the way of her sports. 
In March of 2002, at age 4, Michaela was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  She had lost four pounds in two weeks and would only drink, not eat.  We took her to the doctor and her blood sugar was 1040. They immediately rushed her by ambulance to Children’s Mercy Hospital ICU where she spent four days and began a regimen of six shots of insulin with ten finger pokes a day. 
Michaela quickly recovered, and as she grew she found her love for sports.  The fact that she was diabetic never slowed her down.  In September of 2004, Michaela was started on an insulin pump.  She still has to test several times a day, but needs only one shot every other day for her insulin pump. 
In the summer of 2008, Michaela started playing “Parks and Rec” softball and really enjoyed the game.  The following Fall, the Coach of the Mustangs, Brad Shanks, saw her love of sports on the basketball court and asked if she wanted to try out for his softball team.  At first Michaela wasn’t sure if competitive softball was for her, but she caught on quickly and fell in love with it.  Since then, she has made many new friends and has found that there are also other girls playing softball with Type 1 diabetes.  It is a struggle trying to keep her blood glucose level under control with sports, but she is determined that being diabetic is not going to stop her from playing.  
Michaela is very excited about playing in the 2010 MSP/JDRF Fundraising Benefit tournament this weekend, and hopes to meet some of the other diabetic girls and their families.    

Jordin - 18U - Predators

My Name is Jordin Brouhard and I was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at the young age of 12.  A Disease I knew a little bit about because my uncle was dealing with complications from this disease himself.  Having someone in my family who had this showed me the proper way to take care of myself and the effects of living an unhealthy life with Diabetes.  I have been playing softball for about 12 years now, 6 of those have been with Diabetes. I have had my share of conflicts with coaches about whether I am able to play at a high level but all along my goal is to show them that I can, and overcome the obstacles that have been presented to me.  Today, I am a catcher for the KC Predators and my coaches and I are proud to say that I have overcome everyone’s doubts about my playing ability. I am going to be playing at the college level in the fall on a softball scholarship. Having experience playing with Diabetes has also been a good influence on my little sister who also has diabetes, showing her she can play whatever sport she wants to but I also enjoy helping people that are newly diagnosed with any questions they have or just by showing them you can be as good of a player as anyone else out there! YOU CONTROL DIABETES DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOU

Chelsea - 14U - Smithville Sting

Chelsea is an outgoing fiery redhead with a love of sports. She manages to stay active by playing basketball and running track for her school. Chelsea’s true passions however are softball and soccer both which she plays at a competitive level. Chelsea looks forward to playing high school ball this fall.

Chelsea was diagnosed in November 05’ with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. The first noticeable signs were during fall soccer. As one of the stronger players on the team she could no longer beat the other team to the ball. It seemed she had lost all of her drive, tiring easily. We time and again asked Chelsea if she still enjoyed playing soccer, trying to find out where our star athlete had gone. By late October the weight loss started, not a lot but enough to notice. With her next scheduled doctor’s appointment in November, we would seek further insight to her unexplained weight loss. During our visit it was determined that her weight loss was likely due to a monthly injection taken for another endocrine disorder. The plan would be to discontinue these injections at our return visit six months later. The next evening, Chelsea had awoken twice in an hour to use the bathroom. She then went directly to the kitchen to get a drink. As a nurse knowing excessive thirst and urination go hand in hand with diabetes, the thought did cross my mind but then like any other parent dismissed the thought with, “Not my kid.” The next day I decided to do a random blood sugar on Chelsea to set my mind at ease. I had a blood glucose meter at my disposal since her father had been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes the previous year. When the meter said: Warning High Glucose over 600 (the normal is 80-110), I immediately rechecked it and got the same reading. In somewhat disbelief, I took Chelsea with me to a friend’s house, her husband too a diabetic. After using their meter, it was all too clear, my worst thoughts were true. We spent the next three days, including Thanksgiving, in Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Chelsea has adjusted well to her disease and has been shown tremendous support by the parents, coaches, and her teammates. She continually amazes us and is a daily reminder of spirit, humility, and a positive attitude.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the #1 non-profit funder of research aimed at finding a cure for Chelsea’s type of diabetes. Through the generosity of others and the continued efforts of JDRF, we are hopeful they will find a cure.

Let’s STRIKE diabetes OUT!!!