Category Archives: JDRF Walk

I Wanna Go (My Bond With Britney Spears)

Posted on by
6

My bond with Britney Spears:

1.  Britney has had her fair share of ups and downs.  My blood sugar also has had (and continues to have) its ups & downs.

2.  Britney is currently performing on “The Strip”.  I happen to find test strips EVERYWHERE.

teststrips

3.  Britney and I were both child brides.

Brit bride

4.  We have both rocked bunny ears (my grandmother made mine.  Not so sure about hers).

Brit bunny

5.  I have a Yorkie.  Brit Brit also has a Yorkie (I think I look a bit happier with my little guy though).

Brit york

6.  Brit knows Michael Strahan.  I explained Continuous Glucose Monitors to Michael Strahan (and we participated in an incredible JDRF’s Fund-A-Cure together…. “Gimme, Gimme More”).

Brit strahan

7.  Britney was married to a prick.  I have to “prick” my finger multiple times a day (please note: I did not come up with this one myself.  My friend M did and I laughed myself silly, said I could never use it in this post, and yet here it is, lucky #7).

8.  Biker Babes (Britney looks cute, I will be THE sweaty mess of all messes after my 100 mile JDRF ride… Oh My God what have I gotten myself into???  Anything to cure T1D right?).

Brit bike

9.  Britney and I both like our bedazzling (I tend to limit mine to arm Dexcom sites… most of the time).

IMG_7743

10.  Britney Spears wears pumps.  I wear a pump too (slightly different version).

image1

 

11.  Britney shaved her hair extensions off her head.  I briefly had extensions, they were a nightmare (hurt and would pop off).  I get the head shaving Brit, believe me, we all need a break sometimes.

12.  This is the most important one.  Ready?  Britney will be on stage in Las Vegas on February 28th… I will ALSO be in Vegas on February 28th but instead of singing, I will be speaking on a stage (although if need be, I’m willing to sing/maybe rap.  I’m not opposed to dancing but really my moves are pretty much weak break dancing).  I am THRILLED to be the opening speaker at JDRF Nevada’s Type One Nation Summit In Vegas!  I am so honored to be able to share what it’s like to participate in a diabetes clinical trial, my Artificial Pancreas experience and some other insights, but wait until you see all the incredible presentations (and presenters) involved!  Check this out!  TypeOneNation Nevada Summit agenda

Incredible right?  So are you anywhere near Las Vegas?  Do you have T1D?  Do you love someone with T1D?  Do you care about someone with T1D?  Are you enemies with someone with T1D (ok that part’s a joke.  Cheeky, I know)?  Here’s the Registration Info (yep, free).

JDRF Type One Nation Summits are happening throughout the country.  If you would like to find one near you, click HERE.

If this post leaves you singing Britney Spears on automatic repeat, please know I’ve had Oops I Did It Again, Toxic and my fave, My Prerogative in my head for 3 weeks now (and have had many a morning shower dance-off to my girl Brit Brit).  I know, You Drive Me Crazy, right?  Also this post has been a project for my friends for weeks and one funny friend who put all these ridiculous photos together and came with all sorts of connections (Thank you!).  Diabetes may suck sometimes, but I appreciate that this blog post brought me (and a few others) a lot of silly laughter.

See ya in Vegas!

OnetoNone

Posted on by
1

Alecia’s Stem Cells JDRF ONE WALK team is selling shirts again!  New spin!  These awesome shirts are NOT the shirts our walk team will be wearing this year.  This design comes in a slew of styles and sizes…. mens, womens, kiddos.

2f66677eb0cf8d07c91dbe56cd32015c

Here was the idea…. design a shirt for sale to the public and the proceeds will go to JDRF.  CHECK.

Design a shirt that is a conversation starter…. One arrow none?  Oh what does that mean?

Design a shirt that anyone and everyone would wear.

Design a shirt that embraces both JDRF and Alecia’s Stem Cells…. yep, done.

Use red!  Red is the color of energy, blood, desire and PASSION!  WE have the PASSION to PUSH Type ONE to Type NONE!

Want a shirt?  OnetoNone

Care to help?  Share this link: http://inktothepeople.com/marketplace/ink-detail/38593

And a HUGE thank you to Ink to the People who are so supportive of me, ASC, and fighting T1D!

Happy Labor Day weekend! xo

Cha-Ching MF!

Posted on by
3

Last week I took the Curse jar to the bank.  The jar itself is stupidly heavy (I did not buy the jar nor write the label) which led me to believe there would be more dinero in there than there actually was…BUT, Office Cuss Jar donated $43.55 to our Alecia’s Stem Cells Walk Team!  F yeah!

cussjarJPG

And on that note, THIS is my current favorite (and yes I just put a quarter in for posting this…. seemed like the right thing to do).

MF

 

I Love You More

Posted on by
Reply

There is so much D stuff going on around here that I crashed yesterday and …

TOOK a NAP (I am NOT a napper).  While my brain tries to process and absorb the past few days, I have some pics I just can’t wait to share.

I (oddly, nervously) HELD the encapsulation project from ViaCyte.

IMG_4198

My friend Cindy took this pic.  She is a lovely and a really funny D-Mom and we tend to make each other cry.  You know what she’s not?  A photographer!  Hello Blurry pic.

Next up: #JDRFOneWalk Conference in Washington, DC was wonderful.  HOPE is so beautifully motivating.  Facial tattoos while on a 20 minute walk by oneself in this nation’s capital, lends to some pretty confusing conversations (I kept forgetting I had it on my face… most of the confusion involved the World Cup).

Mike Tyson without the ear biting.

IMG_4165

My bike riding has taken on a new angle.  Details later, but I’m riding a 3-speed Citibike or a stationary bike at the gym, but more.  My joking is no longer a joke.  I’m training-ish.  I ring the Citibike bell like nobody’s business BUT mostly when no one’s on the path.  Yes, I’m a 10 years old.  Want to join the Manhattan/Brooklyn JDRF One Walk?  That’s the bridge in the background of my bike training pic.  Gorgeous right?

IMG_4216

And finally, I had an incredibly magical moment on Saturday.

Exhausted and pedaling along when I saw a BIG heart!

IMG_4233 IMG_4227

Yes, that is a piano that appears to have washed ashore on the tiny bank of the East River.  I hit the breaks and wondered just how tired and dehydrated I could possibly be.

These pics are my proof that I did indeed see a piano in the sand, tagged with A HEART.

Magic, I’m telling you, magic.

More to come. xo

 

 

Curiosity?

Posted on by
4

Foot is healing and Dexcom site is switched.

Left thigh doesn’t hurt at all but I am curious as to why the blood pooled around the edge of the sensor (yep, that’s a skort in the pic…  I like to rock a skort regardless of the teasing I seembikeshorts to keep catch about it) .  Anyone?  I don’t know why I’m so curious about this, but after all the blood upon insertion, I expected a big bloody bruise under the sensor, not around it…. Anyone?

 

So what’s next?  In a dramatic moment (read: insane), my sister and I signed up for  JDRF Ride.  No, not one of the BIG Rides, but a local one…. well Jamaica….ummmmm Jamaica, Queens… which seems far away (right now) since I still haven’t figured out how we are getting there.  You know what else I haven’t figured out?  Bikes!  We don’t have bikes!  We *may* have a connection to borrowing bikes thanks to JDRF.  Great!  There is a 10 mile version to which I said, “pish-posh”.  I regret my pish-posh attitude now.   I will be riding 20 miles.  I had no idea how far that was.  My training so far has been 2 Citibike rides.

MZwallace1

That is the Brooklyn Bridge in the background, which is part of the route of NYC’s JDRF One Walk.  This is also the view over my Citibike handlebars and my big huge purse strapped to the front.  My training looks wimpy.  My training IS wimpy.

After eating way too much unhealthy food over the 4th, yesterday I went to the gym.  Granted I have some sort of upper respiratory thing I’m fighting through, BUT I did a 1/2 hour on the elliptical and then switched to a stationary bike.  I was good and sweaty and coughing and figured maybe I rode 10 miles.  I looked down.  Nope.  2.16 miles.  Holy Smokes this going to be ugly.  How many spin classes can I go to in 3 weeks?  Eek.  Remember when I did that CYC (spinning madness) class for JDRF?  My sister and friend loved it so much that they still take the classes!  I hope my sister doesn’t mind me riding on the handlebars of her bike.

Here’s the route (terrifying YET exhilarating and then a little “OMG” and then “those stops look fantastic”):

route-295x300

 

Next up: I leave Wednesday for Washington DC for the JDRF One Walk Conference: Road to Success.  I’m excited and super curious.

And finally, in the next few weeks I hope to have some updates on the AP trials which are to begin HERE in NYC.  Not holding my breath for my own guinea pig involvement and not getting over enthusiastic (so I keep telling myself).

Keep advocating folks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday – PROGRESS!!!

Posted on by
1

I can’t even describe how inspired I feel today (I’ve been up since 4:30am so it may partially be exhaustion, but I do feel excited).  While my brain and my heart settle a bit… here’s a pic of me last night (microphone not working and video without sound).  I definitely think I was a bit stiff and far away, my chit-chat was the most boring part of the evening, but who cares…. BECAUSE…..

Not a bad pic. Pretty sure this is when I realized there was no video playing!

Not a bad pic. Pretty sure this is when I realized there was no video playing!

 

THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT!

Dr Aaron Kowalski

Dr Aaron Kowalski

Dr. Aaron Kowalski.

MIND.

BLOWN.  

I got to sit next to him and afterward, bombard him with questions.  If my pancreas could smile, believe me, it would have.

Pancreas from I Heart Guts

Pancreas from I Heart Guts

 

 

 

 

More information on all of this later!  And here’s some additional info about Dr. Kowalski:

Dr. Kowalski, JDRF’s Vice President, Artificial Pancreas Project.  He is an internationally recognized expert in the area of diabetes technologies, and oversees JDRF-funded research aimed at accelerating the delivery and development of the artificial pancreas systems. He has authored numerous articles in the field, including co-authoring the landmark study in The New England Journal of Medicine that revealed the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors in T1D.

Dr. Kowalski’s brother Stephen was diagnosed with type 1 in 1977 diabetes and in 1984, Dr. Kowalski was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

 

Wimpiss Breath?

Posted on by
Reply

Tonight is the official kick-off for the NYC (Manhattan’s) ONE Walk which is the roll out of a whole new platform for JDRF’s Walk (the evening is called Progress to Type None).  The purpose of the event is to discuss research developments over the past year (artificial pancreas, complications, encapsulation, smart insulin, restoration, and prevention), upcoming Team Walk plans, and the new website for the walk this year (thank God)… AND guess who the opening speaker is… ME.  Guess who I get to introduce? Jeffrey Brewer (I just found this out 15 minutes ago… yikes).

Today seems like a GREAT day to shake-off all this fear stuff that has really been nagging me since my 35th diaversary last week (check out the comments section of that post… yay DOC).  Let’s face it though… I’m not going to simply shake it off (although I really LOVED Scott’s comment “Yes, thirty five years is a long time – but it’s just a series of individual days, and so far you’ve survived every single one of them. There will be many more, and I’m sure you’ll survive those too.”)  So awesome. 

So, what’s my plan, you say?

Redirecting scared energy.  Granted this is an experiment… but, I think this could work (read: OMG this better work).  I have a lot more to read at this event than I thought and I haven’t actually seen the powerpoint that I will speaking along to (terrible sentence structure by the way… ending with a preposition.  “Along to”… cringe worthy).

But here’s the really great part… I get to speak a tiny bit about Alecia’s Stem Cells and with that, I will absolutely talk about the goals of this team.  That puts me in fighter mode.  That takes me out of worry mode.  I really need to get back to outlining that part though (geez where is this day going?).

Also on a slightly humorous side note: in my introduction tonight I am supposed to state that I am our Walk’s Corporate Team CHAMPION.  When I was a kid, my brothers and I would wrestle (although this story applies to most games we played).  When someone won, they SANG (often while flexing their muscles), “I am the CHAMPION, YOU ARE THE WIMPISS BREATH”, over and over (there was a tune involved, I promise).  I still don’t even know that wimpiss breath means but it had something to do with being a wimp and it sort of sounded bad.  It is damn near impossible to think of saying that line tonight, CHAMPION,  and not flexing like a professional wrestler from the 80s and then raising my arms up and hopping up and down like Rocky (I may just do the flexing anyway).

Tonight I get to embrace my fear of public speaking yet again.

I WILL redirect my fear.

I am forced to be brave.

When you’re SCARED but you still do it anyway, that’s BRAVE. -Neil Gaimon

 

Be good. ONE Walk

Posted on by
Reply
little curl

How did I possibly breathe out of that nose?

 

 

There was a little girl
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good
She was very, very good
But when she was bad
She was horrid!

 

 

Let’s be good.  Let’s feel good.  Let’s do good.

It’s official.  Alecia’s Stem Cells NYC JDRF Walk Team is registered to walk again.

I want you.

I need you.

We need advocacy.

We need to push technology forward.

We need to a CURE.

Come walk with me.

Come support our team.

Spread the word.

Reach out.

What are you doing September 28th?  NYC.  Brooklyn.  A beautiful bridge.  13th Anniversary of the founding Alecia’s Stem Cells.  15th ASC Walk.  25th Anniversary of the JDRF Manhattan Walk.  My 35th year with a busted-up pancreas.  35…. WOW.

Type ONE, until NONE.

ONE WALK.

I need your help.

I.  NEED.  YOU.

For more info, come visit Alecia’s Stem Cells.  xo

 

Australia?

Posted on by
2
ASC 2013

Alecia’s Stem Cells- JDRF- 2013

 

WE’RE GOING TO AUSTRALIA!

 

Well actually the Alecia’s Stem Cells 2013 Shirt graphic is. Remember our award winning ASC 2013 JDRF NYC Shirts?

“New Technologies, New Treatments, New York”… ?

 

ASC JAJ

JDRF Australia contacted me for their New York, New York themed Gala (well, Galas!). They LOVED our shirts (hey we loved our shirts too), so presto, I sent over the graphics.  They have a printer who printed the shirts for free (yay) and I just got word they have printed shirts for all their volunteers to wear at the Australian Galas… So in a way, ASC will be at 4 Galas this May…Melbourne, Sydney, Perth & Brisbane.  Amazing!

This perfectly ties in with my last 2 Volunteering themed posts too!  More amazing!

Do good, feel good.

Me and my parents

Me and my parents

JDRF 2013 Walk

OUCH!

Posted on by
3

I have a pretty high tolerance for pain (that doesn’t mean I won’t complain incessantly when something hurts). I’ve been taking shots a long time (and they were WAY bigger when i was a kid), inserting pump sites and Dexcom sensors for oodles of years. Why then, is today the day that my left ring finger tip hurts so effing much from a finger stick? It’s almost comical in the realm of physical pain that typing is killing my damn finger and I keep wincing in pain… like a VERY angry splinter.

ouchJPG
Such a teeny red spot/ bruise. Sometimes it really is the little things that sting the most.

A bruised finger has me thinking about how ready I am for the next level of technology and ultimately, someday, I hope, a cure.  I think about how I speed packed this morning to get out of town for a few days.  Picking out what to wear today not based on weather or comfort, but what will keep my pump most accessible going through security at the airport and how I should have moisturized my legs as I may have to drop my pants to show of my thigh Dexcom site but at least I’m wearing my lucky heart undies.

I write this post to bring up a point near and dear to my heart (oh and to complain a bit)… This week has been National Volunteer Week (tomorrow is the last OFFICIAL day).

GO. DO. SOMETHING.

No really, go. Volunteer to help JDRF. Local chapters are always looking for people to help out. It’s not about donating/raising money (although that is indeed important). Encourage a non D to volunteer with you.  Believe me, it’s not always easy, but try it.  Spread the word.  Do good, feel good.  Figure out your talents and volunteer them. Give your time, your ideas, your heart and most importantly, your passion.

It is time. GO!

PS If you are looking for something to do…Alecia’s Stem Cells is ALWAYS looking for walkers, sponsors, social media pushers, friends, competitors, cheerleaders, huggers…. more info about ASC in the next few weeks.