Diabetic children walk together to raise funds for research

SWEETIES—Quinn Rohrbach of Camarillo and Brayden Koff of Oak Park lead their teams in a several miles in a walk to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation last Sunday. The two girls, who both attend Red Oak Elementary School in Oak Park, manage their diabetes together during the school day. Quinny's Quest, Brayden's Boosters, Team Michelle and Benjamin's Buddies were just a few of the groups that walked several miles through Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills last Sunday to raise money for diabetes research.

Friends and family came to support local children, including Quinn Rohrbach of Camarillo, Brayden Koff and Michelle Smolarski of Oak Park, and Benjamin Brook of Agoura Hills. All four have juvenile diabetes.

"Having all of these people here shows that there is a big commitment to finding a cure," said Michelle, who was diagnosed at age 4 and is now a 14-year-old freshman at Oak Park High School. "It's a disease that involves the entire family. As a kid you can't handle it by yourself."

"It's cool that there are a lot of people out there supporting us," said Benjamin, 11, who attends Lindero Canyon Middle School.

The annual walkathon, sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, raised thousands of dollars, most of which goes to research, not administration, said Benjamin's mother, Gila Brook. Benjamin's Buddies raised $3,000 from donors for this year's walk and more than $7,000 in the three previous walks Benjamin has done since being diagnosed at age 6. The family is grateful to supporters.

"We can't do it alone," Gila Brook said "The walk makes us feel like we are doing something, not just living it but being part of the solution."

About 3 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, with 15,000 children diagnosed annually, according to the JDRF website. Insulin, administered through multiple daily injections or a pump, is needed to stay alive. Blood sugar testing through finger pricks is done six or more times daily. Despite careful monitoring, other factors, such as stress, hormonal changes, growth, physical activity, illness, fatigue and medications, can cause complications. Insulin does not cure diabetes nor prevent complications, which include kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, heart attack and stroke.

Support is important, said Quinn's mother, Polly Rohrbach. Unlike adult-onset type 2 diabetes, which is reversible, type 1 is a lifelong illness and is not caused by lack of proper health habits, she said.

"There is absolutely nothing my daughter did to bring this on, and nothing we can do to cure her, aside from an organ transplant when she's an adult," Rohrbach said.

Quinn, now 7, was diagnosed at age 4 after her parents noticed she was drinking an unusual amount of water and using the bathroom multiple times in a short period. Her pediatrician did not seem concerned, but Rohrbach insisted on a blood test, which was positive. Two weeks later the family participated in their first walk for diabetes.

Quinn and her classmate Brayden have managed their diabetes together at Red Oak Elementary School in Oak Park since kindergarten. They test their blood sugar levels together, and they went on glucose monitors in February and on the OmniPod, an insulin pump, in September after each suffered near fatal seizures.

"They motivate each other," Rohrbach said. "It's so fantastic to have that bond with another family."

Quinn's walking team included about 30 participants wearing team T-shirts. The family raised about $3,000 in this year's walk. In the four years they have participated in diabetes walks, Rohrbach estimates they've raised $25,000.

"We are very fortunate to have a lot of support," Rohrbach said.

For Benjamin, the challenges of the disease include remembering to test his blood sugar level and to give himself a dose of insulin after he eats. The hardest part, he said, is changing his pump site, which must be done every three days to avoid infection. He no longer wears the pump on his stomach, where the tissue has hardened from so many needle pokings. Now the site is in his lower back.

"It hurts sometimes," Benjamin said.

The Brook family hopes a cure can be found by the time Benjamin goes to college.

"In college we won't be there to test Benjamin at 11 o'clock at night; we won't be at his meals to remind him to take his insulin when he eats," said Benjamin's father, David. "It's a huge fear for diabetics like Benjamin and their parents."

To make a donation or for more information, visit www .jdrf.org.