“That Sunday afternoon we were visiting family in New Jersey. Logan would be normally jumping and splashing in the pool with his cousins, but we saw Logan sitting with his feet in the water saying he felt too tired to play. He had a slight fever, and felt sick to his stomach. We had him lie down, but he seemed to be getting worse. We called our doctor and described Logan’s condition. He told us to get Logan to Vassar Brothers Hospital emergency room in Poughkeepsie as soon as possible.
“We rushed there and discovered his blood sugar was more than twice the normal level. The doctor told us due to his condition, he could not be treated there and needed to be taken by ambulance to Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Westchester.
“Logan was hospitalized for seven days while the doctors there managed to get his blood sugar levels stabilized. Those seven days were torture for him, but also a nightmare for Crystal and me. We had a crash course in dietary management so we would not accidentally kill our son by feeding him too little or too many carbohydrates.”
That was three years ago. According to his father, Logan has adjusted well.
“It has been over two and a half years since Logan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes,” his father continues. “He is now ten years old and he refuses to let diabetes negatively impact his life. Logan’s endocrinologist was amazed during his last quarterly physical when she discovered his blood-sugar level was almost the same as a normal person’s. It is not easy, but every day Logan takes his insulin injections, manages his diet, exercises, and pays attention to his body when his blood sugar dips below normal.
“Prior to his diagnosis Logan would have problems focusing on his work in school. Since his blood-sugar levels have stabilized, he is excelling in all academic areas. Diabetes has not slowed his desire to compete in sports. He continues to play on the New Paltz Travel soccer team, plays town baseball, and received his first-degree black belt in tae kwon do this May 4.
“Crystal and I cringe thinking about the approximately 4500 finger pricks and 1810 insulin shots he has received over the past two and a half years, but find inspiration in the way he approaches life.”
The kickoff event at Diamond Mills is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. next Thursday. Logan Michael will attend as the local JDRF diabetes ambassador.
His family is hopeful that he will eventually be able to use an artificial pancreas, a technology now in the medical trial stages. If and when the research is successful, Logan will have a small insulin pump attached to his waist and a small monitor attached to his body. Between these two devices, he could live a normal life.
This year, JDRF has a national goal of funding $200 million of type 1 research. Much of that money will be raised through JDRF’s Walk to Cure Diabetes events held nationwide in over 200 locations.
Join the family! 
