Saturday, April 8, 2017

2017 JDRF Government Day, Washington, DC

My mom has always wanted to go to JDRF Government Day. Thanks to JDRF UT/ID she got an invitation to attend this year! 150 advocates met with every member of Congress during the 3 day event to thank the members for their support of the SDP which gives $150 million each year! We need this money to continue researching for a cure!
 All the JDRF advocates, March 2017
 Idaho U.S. Senator Mike Crapo's post
 Utah and Idaho advocates
 Ready to storm the Hill
 Amy Colgan and Fondra Magee, ID advocates
 Idaho U.S. Representative Mike Simpson
 Dinner with advocates
 Idaho U.S. Representative Raul Labrador's staffer
 Idaho U.S. Senator Jim Risch. I sent some gifts I made with my mom for each of the Congressmen and I madea short video for each Congressman. When Senator Risch watched my video to him, he asked my mom if he could record one for me and sent it to my phone right then! That was awesome!

3rd Annual Idaho Type One Diabetes Awareness Day at the Capitol

In February 2017, we held our 3rd annual Type 1 Diabetes Day at the Boise capitol! We were thrilled that Governor Otter made room in his schedule to read the Proclamation to those in attendance! Watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6bfk-3IM9E&feature=youtu.be




 Governor Otter took time to speak to those in attendance and pose for photos.
 KTVB 6 pm newscast of our event





 Our invitation to the Idaho State Senators and Representatives.  
 Miss Boise Teen, McCall Salinas, T1D advocate
 Wendi Tanner, JDRF UT/ID flew from her Salt Lake office to spend the day with us! She contacted all our vendors, provided lunch and snacks for all our guests and Congressmen, and ordered tables. She was truly a ROCKSTAR! Thanks, Wendi and JDRF UT/ID for ALL your help in spreading awareness about the need for a cure for T1D!

 Idaho Secretary of State, Lawerence Denny, has become a good friend and attends our T1D Awareness Day at the capitol each year!
 We had an Open Mic time when kids and adults with T1D could tell their stories
 Camp Hodia, T1D summer camp
 St. Lukes hospital and Dexcom representatives
 Medtronic representative
 Kennedy Howland, JDRF Children's Congress delegate '15, enlisted the help of her friends. They delivered invitations to the Idaho Congressmen at the capitol, made signs, and provided the entertainment for the day! Thank you, Kennedy!
 Novo Nordisk representative
This little guy was diagnosed a year ago and was so interested in my pump. He still gets injections, but might be a pumper soon!



 One of the Idaho Senators came over and told me about his grown daughter who was diagnosed with T1D as a young child. He was so passionate, with tears in his eyes, about what we were doing
 Governor Butch Otter and me with the 2017 Idaho Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Day proclamation

Pete Katsilometes, Special Assistant to Governor Butch Otter, wrote this year's Proclamation

Trial Net representative
 Second floor rotunda, Boise statehouse
 Kevin Troutt, my unicycling buddy




 We had some great entertainment this year!

 I feel safe!
 Children with Type 1 diabetes created tri-fold boards telling their stories

 Thank you JDRF for footing the bill for the delicious food the capitol restaurant provided for guests
Caden lived across the street from me when we were both little. We had the best of times until his family moved to Boise! It was great to see him again!

JDRF Promise Meeting with U.S. Senator Crapo in CdA

In November 2016, U.S. Senator Crapo was more than happy to meet with me and some of my friends to discuss the need of seniors on Medicare to have access to Continuous Glucose Monitors. Some of my friends showed Sen. Crapo their CGM and talked about how important it was to prevent low blood sugars! We also thanked him for being a huge supporter of the Special Diabetes Program which gives $150 million to research for a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Newspaper article:

http://www.cdapress.com/archive/article-dc3288a8-a567-5e10-8a22-8e403f6d2ff2.html


Most of my T1D friends and their families had never been to a Promise meeting and they were so excited to be advocating and making a difference! They were excited to get out of school for an hour, too!! Here is an article that the CdA Press ran in the paper about our meeting and also a tweet that Senator Crapo sent out!!! Enjoy some photos from the day, as well!

Senator Crapo's media release:







More of Senator Crapo's tweets!