Four people in a two bedroom apartment was pretty rough. When Ellie started drinking lots of water, and waking up in the middle night asking for water two weeks after we moved it was easy to say it was because of the new "house", new daycare, sharing a bedroom with her sister. There were lots of excuses...

We scheduled her four year appointment for the end of August at a new pediatrician's office. The first thing he said to us was "I'm sorry, but there is glucose in her urine"'. I knew immediately what that meant... and sunk to the ground while holding Ellie. I ask myself now why I did not check her blood sugar beforehand. We had the conversation the weekend before this appointment with my parents. We talked about the excessive thirst. The classic symptoms were all there. Why didn't we test sooner? The answer is pretty simple: denial.

This is where we should change the name of this page to "Our story of diabetes".

We knew the symptoms so well because I have had type 1 diabetes since January 1977. We ended up spending my 30th birthday at DeVos Children's Hospital learning how to give Ellie shots and test her bloodsugar. She missed her first week at her new preschool. We had to teach her daycare how to care for her. The fact that they were open to caring for Ellie was such a huge relief. Discovery Days Learning Center made our lives so much better in that very rough time. None of us were experts (I would say we are all so much more knowledgeable now), but together we got through those first few months.

I told Ellie's new pediatric endocrinologist (Dr. Pinar) that we wanted Ellie on an insulin pump on that first day. They were hesitant about her age, and also that she hadn't had diabetes for six month. I was adamant however, and Ellie started on a pump two weeks after diagnosis. (Should now note, they are putting kids on pumps even younger than Ellie... and I think most parents are grateful for this technology!)

We walked in the 2004 Walk to Cure Diabetes for JDRF in Grand Rapids on October 2, 2004. We walked as a family, raising $2,802.35 in just two weeks. This walk was what we needed to get out of our depression. It was overwhelming... but well worth it.

In December of 2004, Ellie was also chosen to be a delegate for the 2005 JDRF Children's Congress. She was one of 150 children from around the United States who were chosen to go to Washington D.C. and tell their Sentaors and Congressional Representatives what life with diabetes is like. We found out after Christmas of 2004 that Ellie & I would be testifying at a Senate hearing on the impact of diabetes on the United States.

Children's Congress was such a learning experience. We met with Representative Ehler's Health Aide, and met with both Senator Levin and Senator Stabenow. It was so inspiring to sit in a room with 150 children with diabetes. Each with their own story of how diabetes has impacted their lives. You can view a video of what Children's Congress is here(be sure to watch the end!).

After we got home from Children's Congress in June, we turned our attention to our Walk team. We created a team this year, Ellie's Elephants - STOMPing out Diabetes, instead of just walking as a family. We also decided, with my parents, to have a golf outing to benefit JDRF. The 1st Annual JDRF - Ellie Clark Golf Outing was held on August 31, 2005... one year to the day Ellie started living with diabetes. We had 124 golfers and a beautiful day in Montague on the Old Channel Trail Golf Course. We raised over $11,000 in that one day thanks to all of our sponsors, and golfers.

The money raised from the golf outing, as well as what our team members raised via letters and emails asking for sponsorship was given to JDRF in the name of Ellie's Elephants. Our team of 20 raised $21,807.00. We were the 2nd place team for the Grand Rapids Walk to Cure Diabetes, which raised a total of $750,000.

Ellie finished her first year of school (Young 5s) with ease. She invited all of her school friends to her 6th party in July.

Ellie is in Kindergarten now. She loves playing outside with her sister, Anna. She loves watching Food Network with Rachel Ray and Emeril her favorite chefs.

We continue living with diabetes times two, changing pump sites every third day, waiting for that day we can go get our cure.