Stephen Parkinson

Towering at 3209 feet high, the summit of Scafell Pike in the heart of the Lake District is England's tallest mountain, which we will be climbing on 17th June 23 for JDRF and our daughter Ruby who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in March 2022, aged 10

At the beginning of last year we had noticed something wasn’t quite right with Ruby, she started to feel unwell but she couldn’t tell us what it was. Ruby had lost a lot of weight, felt very tired all the time and was constantly gulping down water. We just put it down to the intense training Ruby had been doing for her gymnastics competition. It wasn’t until the week before Ruby’s diagnosis that these symptoms began to manifest. Ruby started to complain of headaches and that week was drinking by the gallon, waking in the night with excessive thirst and going to the toilet much more frequently. Ruby looked pale and was exhausted, it was a task for her to put on her shoes one morning and we knew then that something was seriously wrong. Ruby’s school teacher had also got very concerned and had mentioned a fruity smell on her breath. 

We took Ruby straight to the hospital. There Ruby was taken to the ICU unit where we were told that she had Type 1 Diabetes, which had been undiagnosed for a while and that we were lucky to have gotten Ruby to hospital when we did, as any longer and it could have been far worse. As hard as it was for us to see Ruby so ill, she received fantastic care. We can remember it being lots of blood work, hooked up to IV’s, lots of tears and why Ruby? Ruby’s pancreas had stopped working and ran out of insulin, she had gone into DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis) and had a build up of acids in her blood, due to her blood sugar levels being very high. 

In the week Ruby was in hospital we received lots of training, saw lots of different consultants and nurses and was given a blue backpack that was supplied from JDRF to all newly diagnosed children. It had lots of information inside to help us adapt as a family and support Ruby. It also contained a Type 1 teddy bear called RUFUS. Rufus helped Ruby so that she could practice on him and inject insulin using an insulin pen, something that she would need to do each day to keep herself alive. Rufus’ coloured patches on his body showed Ruby the places where she could inject on her own body and become confident to do it independently. Ruby became really attached to Rufus and still is! Rufus took Ruby’s mind off the nightmare that she was going through and was a god send thanks to JDRF. 

Type 1 diabetes is often very misunderstood, we as a family could never have imagined how unforgiving the disease is, especially upon someone as young as our Ruby. It has made us realise how difficult it is for others in our position to adapt to the life changing challenges that it brings. Since being diagnosed, once enjoyable activities have now become more challenging for Ruby, always worrying about whether Ruby’s blood glucose levels are stable and the once daunting task of having to inject herself multiple times in the day and night, before recently getting fitted with an insulin pump. Even just going to the supermarket is like a military operation, as we need to pack all the medical kit Ruby will need. Party’s, sleepovers- anything a usual 11 year old would enjoy, have to be carefully planned and is always a worry for us to keep Ruby as safe as possible, whilst also letting her have the independence and normality that she needs. 

Seeing the physical and mental impacts Type 1 must have on Ruby, she has never once complained and has adapted really well, wanting to find out more about her condition and even becoming a Type 1 ambassador for JDRF herself and has raised a lot of awareness in her school. Ruby immerses herself into her gymnastics, something that she has always loved to do and even though activities like these are more challenging, she has never let Type 1 stop her from doing anything. 

Ruby has to have regular clinic visits, has complex tests, meets with the dietitian and has many more appointments for her eyes, liver, kidneys and circulation. Ruby has lots of good days, sometimes the bad days catch up with her but we make sure Ruby has the same life as everyone else and encourage her to never let Type 1 stop her from achieving her hopes and dreams. Ruby wears her condition with confidence and will never settle to believe that it makes her any less. A lot of people with Type 1 will say “I control my diabetes, my diabetes doesn’t control me”.

We’re taking part in One Walk Your Way and climbing Scafell Pike in the Lake District to help raise money to fund life-changing research and make a difference to the lives of people affected by type 1! 

For a cause close to our hearts, with your support and your generous donations, we can fund JDRF UK’s important work. JDRF have helped us as a family to manage Ruby’s condition and to understand it more. We want to do something to show our heartfelt thanks and raise as much money as possible to contribute to the ongoing work that JDRF are doing to treat, prevent and one day, as hopeful as we are to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes.

Here are just a few examples of what your money can do...

£20 could enable 20 parents to return to work, safe in the knowledge that their child's type 1 diabetes will be carefully managed at school, thanks to JDRF's e-learning modules.

£65 could help a vital research project progress by paying for one hour of research time.

£115 could pay for one person to be screened for type 1 diabetes. Sadly people in the UK still die from un-diagnosed type 1 diabetes complications - this screening could stop this.

Thank you for your support, whatever you donate is really appreciated. Together, we can help JDRF to eradicate type 1 diabetes!