Joe's Memorial Fundraising Page

BARTON CENTER FOR DIABETES EDUCATION, INC.

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Joe was an amazing young man who had the ability to make everyone around him feel special.  He led a life filled with passion, excitement, love and strength.

We want to take a moment to tell you a little about Joe’s relationship with Type 1 Diabetes.  Joe was diagnosed with diabetes the day before his eighth birthday.  Like many of you, we had no idea what that meant.  Give him a shot and be on our way!  No. Such. Luck.  Joe’s pancreas no longer functioned. From that day forward, Joe’s body had to be told how to process food. He had to check his blood sugar levels 5-8 times a day by pricking his finger with a needle until it bled and feeding his blood into a small meter.  He then had to calculate how many carbs were in his food and drink and put another needle into his body containing the correct amount of insulin. Every. Time. He. Ate.  And for those of you who knew Joe, eating was an Olympic sport!  He eventually graduated to an insulin pump.  This still required the finger testing and calculation, but he wore a small pump attached to his body by a small needle, which he changed every two days.  Joe became so good at all this, some of you didn’t even know he had diabetes.  He never wanted to stand out, and he certainly never wanted you to feel bad for him. 

Joe first attended the Camp Joslin (The Barton Center) when he was 8 years old.  It was an amazing, transformative experience for him and for us.  He was determined to pass the big pond swimming test immediately (surprise, surprise, he did!) and spent a week being a normal kid swimming, sailing, fishing, and playing games.  All under the watchful eyes of doctors and nurses volunteering their time.  When he returned after that first summer, he said to me, “Mom, it was the first time I didn’t feel different.”  As a teen, through The Barton Center, he and other kids with diabetes attended a weekend snowboarding trip in New Hampshire and also an amazing week-long hike through the White Mountains surviving on potato chips and bagged tuna.   While Joe was under the care of these amazing people, it also gave those of us at home peace of mind knowing he was safe, having fun and learning to take care of himself. 

Joe gave us 24 fun-filled, memorable and amazing years; but that will never be enough.  We hope through this scholarship other children afflicted with this terrible disease can learn how to care for themselves, live life to the fullest and never feel different.  YJK.  Forever Young.

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