This past Saturday marked the end to a very special chapter in my family’s life…the JDRF Walk. For those of you who do not know, my oldest daughter, Katelyn, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of seven.

When you have a child with a life-threatening illness, you are faced with two choices. You can choose to wallow in self-pity, asking “Why my child?” and you can become a victim, or you can choose to empower your child, equip them with the tools to thrive, and you can ADVOCATE for awareness for their disease.

We chose the latter, so for the past eleven years, I have poured my heart and soul into the JDRF Walk, raising money for research for a cure for Katelyn.  I am proud to say that during these past eleven years, we have raised over $60,000 for JDRF.  I have talked to anyone who would listen about her story, the warning signs of Type 1 Diabetes and how early detection is KEY and can save lives!

If you know me, you know that walk day is a VERY SPECIAL day for this momma.  It’s the ONE day my sweet girl does not feel alone in her fight against Type 1 Diabetes. I watch as her face lights up when family from near and far, teachers both past and present, friends both old and new walk through the gates of NRG wearing her team shirt.  We have had hot walks, we have had cold walks, we have had the last three walks without my dad. But no matter the circumstances, no matter the weather, no matter how big or small our team, we have had HOPE.

Eleven years of organizing teams. Eleven years of designing shirts. Eleven years of fundraising. Eleven years of advocating. Eleven years of support.  Eleven years of prayers. Eleven years of standing in complete awe of her strength, her bravery, her grace, her faith.

To all of you who woke up early those eleven years and drove all the way to NRG, we will be forever grateful. If you took the time to join us, I guarantee you left the walk feeling the same magic we did.  And I guarantee you gained a new-found respect for all those who battle the invisible, terrible, bear of a disease that is Type 1 Diabetes.

What you may not realize is that those three hours you took out of your busy schedule, helped Katelyn make it through the other 364 days of the year.  Those three hours helped her endure the endless finger pricks, the high blood sugars, the low blood sugars, the thousands of insulin injections, the hospitalizations, the sleepless nights.  Those three hours helped her face each day, DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY!  Those three hours meant more to her than you will ever know.  Those three hours meant more to our family than you will ever know.

I have to admit, my heart broke a little as we drove out of the yellow lot of NRG this year. The closing of a chapter that has been a passion of mine for the past eleven years.  A project fueled by love, determination, and this momma bear’s heart. Of course we will always support JDRF.  We will always advocate. And Cody and I will continue to walk every year.  But that day will be a bit different without Katelyn as she will be off “walking” her new path as a college student.

The road has not been easy, but the support you all have given us over these past eleven years has helped lighten our load, helped us to keep our faith and has helped us to be one step closer to a cure for Katelyn and so many others fighting this terrible disease. THANK YOU, FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, for walking this journey with us.

Team Katelyn, Forever.