Super-Human Strength in Diabetes

Ever since completing my first marathon last month I feel like I miraculously have super-human strength! Tasks that used to test me mentally or physically are no longer as challenging, and I truly believe that I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to do.

Each morning I remind myself of the energy that was required to get to mile 26 of the marathon and all of a sudden my 8 to 5 day job seems to be a breeze, workouts are not nearly as challenging, and I look forward to waking up in the middle of the night to soothe our crying baby! Okay, that last one was a joke, but you get my point!

Just as I was beginning to envision myself as the newest character on the comic show X-Men with my super-human strength, I received a call from good friend and quickly realized that super-human strength is not something that is acquired by overcoming temporary feelings of pain such as felt in completing a marathon. Rather, super-human strength is acquired by continually overcoming pain while lifting everyone around you with your positive attitude.

I may not have super-human strength but I know someone who does:

Kayla Eriksen, 11 years old

Type 1 diabetes: Kayla was enrolled in the Trial Net Pathway to Prediction study, which is designed to screen for autoantibodies that are predictive of Type 1 diabetes. Two years after receiving her positive results she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.Celiac Disease (CD): Not long after getting diagnosed with diabetes, Kayla was diagnosed with CD which “is a lifelong inherited autoimmune condition affecting children and adults. When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Even small amounts of gluten in foods can affect those with CD and cause health problems. Damage can occur to the small bowel even when there are no symptoms present.Junior Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA): Kayla has also been diagnosed with JRA, which is the most common form of arthritis in children younger than the age of 16. As an autoimmune disease, your child’s body attacks its own joints, and this can result in very crippling symptoms.Gastrostomy tube ( G-tube): Due to the numerous challenges Kayla faces, doctors have decided to utilize a G-tube which is a tube inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach. It’s one of the ways doctors can make sure kids with trouble eating get the fluid and calories they need to grow.

It is not simply the number of challenges that Kayla faces on a daily basis that is most impressive, but her positive attitude and absolute joy for life while working through her numerous challenges that makes me realize that she is the strongest person who I know. In fact, her mother informed me that not a day goes by where Kayla does not either feel pain from her JRA or sick from a high blood sugar. The truly amazing thing about Kayla is you would never expect that she is experiencing an ounce of pain in her body by the huge smile and contagious laugh that are always on display.

Kayla approaches each day with love, laughter, and happiness and she is not looking for sympathy from anyone. All Kayla is hoping that you do is smile as you finish reading her story and show it to as many people as you can! If my good friend Kayla can put a smile on her face every day, so can I, so can we!

I know someone who has super-human strength, do you?

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