Leigh, 16, and Lauren, 11, Massachusetts
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Lauren, age 11, says:
It might not always be easy to see, but my sister, Leigh, really cares about me. She tries really hard to help find a cure for my diabetes. Every year she helps our walk team raise thousands of dollars. She gets all her friends and even her whole dance team to walk for me, and on that day I really know she wants me cured. Whenever I am sick in the hospital she comes to see me and makes me feel better.
But even though Leigh cares about me, she does not always make me feel better about my diabetes, like when she tells me that my needles are really scary. I know it is because she feels bad, but also because she is scared. My sister is really scared that someday she might get diabetes.
Leigh never dares to come near me when I am doing a shot or checking my blood. But even though Leigh cannot come near me when I am doing a shot or checking my blood, she still really understands how hard it is for me.
I know that because she has always made sure to learn all about it and know what to do if my mom and dad go out. Once she even did a school project on it, and I got to come in for the project day. It was cool and made me feel special.
I know she does not like when I get lots of attention, like when I'm really high or low or when I'm sick. I know Leigh does not like all the attention I get for things like Children's Congress, too. I found out what it felt like this year when she won a giant science fair and everyone in our town was talking about it. I felt kind of jealous that everyone was talking about her.
I know most of all that my sister really loves me and cares and does want a cure so much. It's hard being a sister in regular life, and in this diabetes life, it's even harder. I think all this will help us learn to be really, really great sisters for our whole lives, even after I'm cured!
More about Leigh and LaurenLauren is a delegate to the 2003 JDRF Children's Congress. Leigh covered Children's Congress as a "kid reporter" for Countdown for Kids magazine. They shared their stories in the Summer 2003 issue.
