Kathleen

Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is based on the concept of the small world phenomenon and rests on the assumption that any actor can be linked through his or her film roles to actor Kevin Bacon.  Like so...

1. Bela Lugosi was in Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) with Vincent Price

2. Vincent Price was in The Raven (1963) with Jack Nicholson

3. Jack Nicholson was in A Few Good Men (1992) with Kevin Bacon

I frequently refer to the Butterfly Effect when I talk about the best way to find a cure for Arden.  Just last week I received proof that my assertion regarding transparency and how it will lead to a cure was justified when a stranger sent me this note.

Hello-

My name is Kathleen and I am a clinical psychology graduate student. I am going to be giving a presentation to medical students regarding how psychologists can be helpful to them in the medical field. I am covering a variety of topics and am trying to find some videos to show. One of the topics is diabetes and I was so taken by your video of Arden that I was hoping you would send me the file of the video so I can incorporate it into my powerpoint presentation.

Thank you very much for your time!

Kathleen

So just like good ole’ Kevin Bacon...

1. Arden was diagnosed with type I diabetes.

2. I tried to find a way to help locate a cure.

3. Kathleen saw Arden on YouTube and used her video in a presentation to medical school students.

4. One of those students goes on to...  who knows.

Now I’ve said said this next part before but it bears repeating.  This is all happening because of you.  When you tell someone about the site, it grows.  When you donate to Arden’s walk you give me strength to continue telling Arden’s story.  When you care you give Arden hope.  When all of these things happen together, I met Kathleen. 

Arden’s Numbers

Pretty soon the phrase Arden’s Numbers will take on an entirely new meaning .  But for now check out these digits!

Arden’s Day main page: After reaching 3,000 hits our main page had to be reset due to a technical glitch.  Today the main page has 2,214 hits.  That is over 5,000 people that have navigated to Arden’s site. 

Arden’s blog entries:  Each of our blog entries average 25 readers.

Arden’s Videos on YouTube:

    Arden Speaks- 740 views on YouTube and another 100 views on our site in four months!

    Arden’s Used Needles Video- 3,363 views on YouTube and 258 more on our site!  1 viewer named Brooke who works for the Alberta Diabetes Foundation... more on Brooke later.

342:  The number of people that signed a petition (in just 3days) when Arden needed help.

712:  The number of days since Arden was diagnosed with type I diabetes.

5,696:  My best guess of how many needles I’ve stuck into Arden since that day.

20: The number of people that have dedicated themselves (so far) to helping Arden this year raise funds and awareness for type I diabetes research.  Please join us today!

Help

Today we are asking you to become part of Arden’s 2008 Walk to Find a Cure Team.

When you sign up today I will proudly make your first pledge in the amount of $5.  

After that there is no more for you to do until September when I’ll ask you to send an email to your friends and family asking them to support your advocacy.  

Arden’s team is already 20 people strong.  Our 2008 goal is to have at least 50 people on our team. Please help us reach or perhaps shatter that goal.

I know that it is sometimes difficult  to imagine that one person can make a difference but I know first-hand that they can.  Just yesterday a person started a new job in the marketing department of the Alberta Diabetes Foundation.  As a part of their first day orientation the new employee watched Arden’sYouTube videos.  

Something that I did in New Jersey is directly impacting people some 2,500 miles and a country away.  I’m left to wonder, what will their effort bring to the fight to cure Arden... What will yours bring?

Sign up Now!

Be Transparent

If you're like me then you are a problem solver by nature.  Hear a problem, find the answer.  But what do you do when you don’t know anything about the problem? 

You find someone that does...

What if the person with answer doesn’t know that there is a problem... or even that they are potentially the one with the answer?

Well, you can show them...

Somewhere on this planet there is a person that holds the cure to Arden’s disease.  Perhaps they are working on it right now or maybe they're in college working towards being a doctor.  It’s even possible that they haven’t been born yet. 

Consider this.  The person that one day discovers the cure for type I diabetes may never see this site or know Arden’s name.  But perhaps a friend of a friend of a friend sees the site or maybe your child giving themselves a bolus in a resturant. What if that's how they learn of type I, how they become interested in knowing more.

My plan for curing type I diabetes is simple.  Since I’m not a doctor or a scientist, I can only use what I know to help find a cure. My tools are the internet and total transparency. I try to show others what Arden’s disease is really like, no matter how uncomfortable sharing our lives may be. I believe that it’s Arden’s best chance to one day have a normal, healthy life.

Starting today I’m adding another focus to my plan by encouraging others like me to be transparent.  Transparency is the key, I’m convinced of that.  Those afflicted with type I “look” fine to the casual observer so we can’t expect people to be moved to advocacy without assistance because most don’t know the facts.  So we are going to educate them. Tell them about the seizures, about how you live in constant fear that your child is about have one.  Tell them type I doesn’t stop because it’s their birthday, three a.m., because they want to take a ballet class or because you're exhausted.  Tell them that every second that your child’s blood glucose is too high is a second stolen from the end of their life.  Try to make them understand the incredible, unrelenting pressure that this disease has created for you and your family, twenty-four hours a day, everyday, for the rest of your lives.  Don’t hide, test and give injections in public, let people see your insulin pump. Encourage them to ask questions, be transparent.  It’s not complaining, it’s education.  It’s problem solving.

I used the internet but there are many other ways to share.  Please find that thing you know about and use it to educate others.  Together we can find a cure. 

**

The following are archived comments from this post. You can post new comments below.

Anonymous

I just wanted to let you know how inspired I've been by Arden, and how much I have learned by reading this. You have reached at least one more person who will be willing to help. I keep Arden in my prayers.

Monday, July 21, 2008 - 07:48 PM

Scott

Thank you!

Thursday, July 24, 2008 - 11:21 AM

Sarah Kelly

So very true.  I am married to a wonderful man with type 1 diabetes and never has he hid it.  He tests where he is, gives shots when he needs it, and (annoyingly) leaves a trail of test strips behind him.  Our children entered a world where d is normal in our family, so not until my two year old was diagnosed did I think twice.  When at the park and people stare, when at the Y and obese people say "oh I have diabetes, too,", when on a playdate and others ask me to not poke him in their living room....oh it's been a learning curve for me, and I don't change a thing.  My son, like my husband, will test where he needs to, will get insulin when he needs it...and I am sure one day he'll drive his housemates crazy with a trail of teststrips, too!

Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 06:46 PM

Scott

Sarah, That's what I'm talking about... I love it!

Monday, May 24, 2010 - 06:39 PM

Anonymous

it's hard though! I totally agree with your transparency theory, I have been type 1 since age 13 (37 now!) and back in the 80's, we just didn't test or inject in public! ok, we didn't have to as test meters were the size of housebricks and we only used quick acting insulin twice a day in measured doses but still, it can take some getting used to. I pump now, but test wherever I am and welcome questions even though I still blush ;-) your daughter does have an advantage (as hidden as it may seem!) at being diagnosed so young, as diabetes is shaping her life. Now that may suck, but it's factual and from your blog, she's doing stirling work!! My favourite picture is the one of her handling the syringe and the insulin vial with her tiny fingers. She has my admiration and deepest respect! it's hard work. She's a champ :-)

Monday, June 14, 2010 - 08:37 AM

Be An Advocate

I just received this email form the JDRF.  Thanks to all of you that helped by calling your representation in D.C.!

Dear Scott,

The Senate just passed a Medicare bill by a vote of 69-30 that includes a two year extension of the Special Diabetes Program! This is the same bill that was passed by an overwhelming margin in the House a few weeks ago. The bill will now be sent to the President with a veto-proof margin in both the House and Senate.

Congratulations to all of you who have been educating your Members of Congress over the past year about the need for a multi-year renewal of the SDP. All of your meetings, letters, and constant contact have made a real impact and you should feel proud of what your advocacy has helped to achieve. 

Tomorrow we will send you a list of how the Senators voted as well as instructions on how to best thank those Members who supported the bill.

JDRF Government Relations