Local Heroes
- Cari Witruk
- Chloe Bacik and Leighton Ebert
- Alexa Skilling
- Nominate a "Local Hero"
- Local Heroes Archive
LOCAL HEROES: Cari Witruk
South Sound Teen Keeps Diabetes on the Run
Just months after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 17-year-old Cari Witruk of Covington, WA merged an important school project with her personal mission to fight diabetes. The enterprising Kentwood High School student and her classmate turned a DECA club project into “Distance for Diabetes,” a 5k fun run they coordinated to raise awareness and funds for JDRF Northwest.
The January road race, which attracted almost 100 runners, brought in more than $4,000 in donations for research. And, after sailing through the state DECA competition in March, Cari will present her very successful project at the national competition in Atlanta in April!
LOCAL HEROES: Chloe Bacik and Leighton Ebert: Two Siblings–Nearly 20 Years Apart—Unite to Fight Diabetes
Eleven-year-old Chloe Bacik and her big brother Leighton, not only share the struggle of living with type 1 diabetes—they were both diagnosed just one day apart in October 2001. Since then, they’ve come to grips with the daily ups and downs of this chronic, devastating disease, but this optimistic pair will not let diabetes slow them down. This year, Chloe and Leighton have joined forces as the 2008 Ambassadors for the Nordstrom Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes. Read more about these remarkable siblings.
LOCAL HEROES: Alexa Skilling: Rowing Ahead with Type One Diabetes
Story by Claire Hannes
Living by the numbers is an endless struggle, but Alexa Skilling perseveres with type 1 diabetes. Alexa Skilling began self-injecting insulin at age nine. “I was at Camp
Orkila,” she explains. “The nurse said, ‘You’re going to give yourself a shot today.’ When I got home I just kept doing it myself.”
Now 21, Alexa is bright-eyed and vibrant. She speaks with eloquence and exhibits a strong sense of self and independence. You would never guess that she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age six, but this disease manipulates her life on a daily basis.
“Diabetes is your life. It affects everything and everything affects it,” Alexa explains. But her disease hasn’t stopped her. Alexa has rowed for Western Washington University’s crew team for the past three years, an ongoing commitment that requires getting up at 4:30 am to be on the water by 5:30am five days a week.
The Ultimate Team Sport
“I set three alarms,” she says with a grin, and her devotion isn’t surprising. Devotion. Responsibility. These are necessary qualities to live with diabetes, a disease that requires strong self-awareness and personal initiative. When asked why she loves crew, Alexa lights up.
“It’s the ultimate team sport,” she says. “It’s amazing being committed to something that can be so unpleasant, but turns so rewarding. Crew has taught me to push myself physically.” Alexa’s passion and zest for a sport so physically demanding exhibits a life without limits. Diabetes is just another challenge. “The first time we ever won nationals at Western was my freshman year, and this past year was the 3rd year in a row.” She says with a smile. “No other team in any division has ever won three times in a row. Three times, sure, but not a three-peat. We're kinda proud of that.”
Overcoming Obstacles
Diabetes poses extra challenges on the water. “There’s an ideal blood sugar to row at, so I don’t always perform as well when I’m high,” Alexa explains. “I check my blood sugar about ten times a day, usually two or three times before practice.” Alexa is always prepared, even in her boat. She never fails to bring her bag with juice and insulin. “You can’t just forget to take your insulin, as you can with some other medications,” she says.
Alexa trains year-round for the crew season and looks forward to spending time with her teammates. “Everyone has to be in the boat. We can’t row without every person,” she says. Despite the extra challenge of diabetes, Alexa’s teammates can rely on her- she knows her disease well.
Lack of Type 1 Awareness
“I’ve never felt the need to explain to my coach, because I know how to take care of myself,” she says. “I’ll just say, ‘Coach, I’m low, I need my juice.’ He won’t push me until I’m ready.” Although Alexa’s coach is aware of her disease, many people do not know about, or do not fully understand, type one diabetes.
“People don’t always understand diabetes unless it personally affects their lives,” Alexa explains. “It’s been in the media more, but when I tell people that I have diabetes, they assume that I have type 2. They think, ‘She eats too much sugar, she doesn’t work out,’ but that’s not true. They assume that I can just get rid of this.”
Controlling the Numbers
Numbers—which reflect blood sugar readings and short-term trends—are the key to survival when you live with diabetes. Although Alexa is exceptionally active and health-conscious compared to the average American, fluctuating blood sugar levels still pose a threat to her long-term health.
“The scariest thing about this disease is what might happen in the future if I don’t take care of myself now,” Alexa explains. “Complications may arise, and your doctor can’t tell you if they will happen and when they will happen.” Blindness, kidney failure, amputations due to irregular blood circulation, and heart disease are all possible long-term consequences of type one diabetes. “I don’t know if these are ‘could-be’s’ or ‘for-sure’s’ for me,” she says. The future remains unsure but hopeful.
Looking Ahead
“I haven’t really defined what a cure would be to me,” Alexa “Fifty or sixty years ago, you’d die from diabetes. Today just staying alive, that could be viewed as a cure in itself.”
In the quest for a cure for type 1 diabetes, JDRF Northwest raised $8 million for research in fiscal year 2007. Some of those funds support clinical trials of revolutionary technology such as the artificial pancreas. This promising device would automatically adjust a person’s blood sugar to a healthy level, preventing the constant ups and downs that lead to internal stress and long-term complications.
And – it would lighten the load for those who must keep food and supplies within reach at all times. “It would be so amazing to not have to carry around my huge bag all the time,” Alexa says.
As technology and clinical trials move forward, she reflects on current methods to advance diabetes research. “I think stem cell research is the answer to every disease and health issue we face. It’s right there. We know what to do with it—now we just have to use it.”
Alexa’s unbreakable zeal and strength have allowed her to thrive with type 1 diabetes. While waiting for a cure she remains an inspiration to those in her situation- by taking charge of her disease.
Nominate a "Local Hero"
There are many individuals and organizations working to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. We'd like to honor some of those local heroes for their outstanding contribution to diabetes treatment, education, or research.
If you'd like to nominate a person, group, or organization, please e-mail us at jdrfnorthwest@jdrf.org. And check back regularly to read new profiles. Thank you for helping us celebrate our heroes!