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« Reply #6 on: November 04, 2009, 01:51:49 PM » |
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I was on our facebook page for parentingdiabetickids and a mother of a daughter that has type 1 diabetes posted this onto my wall. It was published in the Island Sand paper. This is such a great idea!!! Very touching...
On Halloween night while all the ghosts, goblins, superheros, and princesses were running door to door to gather their tasty treats, my daughter was going door to door for a bigger cause. My daughter, Allee, is a Type 1 diabetic. She was diagnosed almost 3 years ago. As you can imagine, having this disease is torturous to a child. I find myself having to become more imaginative at Easter and Halloween, times when children get lots of candy and sugary treats. So this year for Halloween I suggested to Allee that we not go trick or treating because she didn't need the candy anyway. (In the past I have allowed her to go, but then bought the candy from her) This year, though, finances and the desire to not have all that candy around the house for me to eat I asked her if we could just not go. Her little face dropped and my heart broke. So I then suggested maybe we could go "trick or changing", instead of candy she could collect change that we could donate to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The light beamed in her eyes again. She was very excited to do so. We went to the Trunk or Treat at the Baptist Church, and then decided to proceed with some friends through the Shell Mound neighborhood. As Allee approached her first house I could see the hesitation in her step, she is somewhat shy. She let all the other children go in front of her and get their goodies. As she approached, the woman at the door was automatically trying to put candy in her bucket. She seemed taken aback as Allee pulled her bucket away. Allee then politely told her that she could not have candy and that she was collecting change for JDRF. The woman let out an empathic sigh and told Allee to just wait there. She came back and unloaded a handful of change into Allee's bucket. When Allee came back to show me her haul, her head held high and her eyes gleaming, I felt so very proud. As we continued through the neighborhood, it was such a wonderful and inspiring experience. Most of the people were very receptive, and even in these tough economic times, were willing to give. I want to thank all of those generous people. On a night that is, for children, about the mounds and mounds of candy they can get their hands on, my daughter gave up tradition and did something she believes in. So I want to say "thank you again" to all of people who donated and gave words of encouragement to Allee. You made it a very special night.
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