Send Evan to T1D Camp

In October of 2024, after a period of illness, Evan was raced to the hospital and diagnosed with T1D. Evan spent three nights in the hospital first for diabetes. My husband and I initially took the news in dazed stride, after all, I knew folks in college and with T1D and they seemed to be living full lives. Our relative calm lasted for the first 3 days, then what little decorum we had scrounged together evaporated when Evan was readmitted after a night at home and treated for sepsis in an IV port. Evan could not move his arm or leg due to extreme pain and his belly was distended. Watching the staff struggle for what seemed like an eternity to reinsert an IV port into his painful arm was the worst moment of my life. Evan spent 3 more nights in the hospital, and he was not discharged until he could walk again. I can't say that diabetes has gotten any easier, but it has been less painful and we have had many moments of joy. Evan seems to be adapting better than Mom and Dad.

Evan missed two Halloween parties, Halloween itself, and his own Birthday party because he was in the hospital. My husband and I determined to give him the full suite of childhood experiences, but we also knew that unless we met other kids and parents with T1D and learn from their experiences we would have a tremendous uphill battle.

I began attending T1D events and met a T1D adult who offered to chat. I asked him about camps and he got teary thinking about the meaningful experience he had at Camp Conrad Chinnock and how it was the only place he was told he could follow his dreams and do anything, rather than be told he couldn't do things. He was so passionate I felt that I wanted to give my son the same experience. We have not found a comparable camp in Arizona.

Here's a note from Evan on what he wants to get out of camp "I like camping outside. I want to see the cabins. I like primitive tools." I believe he will get more out of camp than he can imagine.

We hope you can help us send Evan (accompanied by Mom and Dad) to family camp at Conrad Chinnok.

Thank you, in advance,

Robin, James, and Evan