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Sunday's Internet Edition, October 12, 2008.
Michael’s Crew headed to state capitol
Family joins fight against Juvenile Diabetes
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In his short four years of living, Michael Gale’s parents estimate that he has endured 3,300 finger pricks and 2,700 insulin shots to fight his Juvenile Diabetes.
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By Joann Forbing
Staff Writer
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Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers Band has it. Jay Cutler, quarterback of the Denver Broncos, has it. Elliott Yamin from American Idol has it, and four-year-old Michael Gale of Herald has it.
It is Juvenile, or Type 1, Diabetes and, according to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) Web site, it is “a disorder of the body’s immune system ... diagnosed in children, teenagers, or young adults”.
Michael Gale’s parents, Ranse and Shelly, are doing their part to help by organizing “Michael’s Crew” for the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes event at the State Capitol on Oct. 5.
Last year was the first time Michael’s Crew joined in the event, which had more than 4,000 people walking and raised more than $400,000. Michael’s Crew contributed their part by having more than 50 friends and family participate, and reached their goal of raising $5,000 to donate to the walk.
This year Michael’s Crew hopes to have more than 100 participants, most of them from the Galt area, and to reach their goal of $7,500. The money, according to Michael’s father, “goes directly to research, continuing on with education, and hopefully finding a cure one day.”
Michael was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in February 2007. He was in the ICU for four days for dehydration, and his organs were starting to shut down before he finally made it through.
The JDRF Web site states, “Insulin is not a cure for the disease – it is merely life support. You can’t outgrow Type 1 Diabetes. The only solution is a cure.”
It’s something Michael and his family (including nine-year-old sister Taylor and 12-year-old brother Ranse) have to learn to deal with on a daily basis.
“It’s a 24-hour-a-day job,” said Shelly. “Having a child that is so young with the disease (is hard because) he doesn’t know when his body is having a high and a low. He doesn’t come to us and say, ‘You know what, something doesn’t feel quite right, mom,’ It’s a guessing game.”
The normal blood sugar level for a healthy person is between 80 and 120. Michael has his lows in the 30s, and his highs can skyrocket to over 600.
“Couple weeks ago he had a (blood sugar level of) 42 at one o’clock in the morning,” says Michael’s father, “and luckily Shelly felt pressed just to go in and test him. If he would have stayed asleep at number 42, he may not have woken up the next morning. That’s kind of the cloud you live with.”
Increased appetite is one of the symptoms of diabetes and, according to his father, “his hunger level is always there.”
Michael has to have his blood sugar tested before each meal, and must be treated with an insulin injection after.
His mother calculates that, since he was diagnosed, he has had his finger pricked more than 3,300 times, and he has received more than 2,700 insulin shots.
Michael goes to preschool. He plays soccer and swims. He loves pirates, sword fights, and Star Wars.
“He may appear to be a normal, healthy little boy from the outside,” said Shelly, “but this disease has definitely taken a toll on his health and emotions. He is, without a doubt, a fighter.”
In addition to spreading awareness about the Walk to Cure Diabetes, the Gales want others to know the warning signs of Juvenile Diabetes.
According to the JDRF Web site, the warning signs for Type 1 Diabetes include “extreme thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness or lethargy, sugar in urine, sudden vision changes, increased appetite, sudden weight loss; fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath; heavy, labored breathing; stupor, and unconsciousness.”
“We know of four other children that have been diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes just in the last year and a half,” said Shelly, “just in the Galt-Herald area that we know personally.”
If you can’t make the Walk to Cure Diabetes on Oct. 5 but would still like to help Michael’s Crew, there are other options. On the evening of Friday, Oct 3, Steve’s Pizza in Elk Grove will donate 20 percent to the JDRF walk if you mention “Michael’s Crew” when ordering. Steve’s Pizza is in Elk Grove in the Old Navy/Best Buy shopping center off Laguna.
For more information on walking, donating, or to get more information on Juvenile Diabetes, contact Ranse and Shelly at (209) 748-5867 or through e-mail at shelly@softcom.net.
You can also donate online at www.jdrf.org under Michael Gale’s name.
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