In BC, a child is diagnosed with diabetes every three to four days. Currently there are over 2,500 children and youth living with diabetes across the province 鈥� a number that is constantly growing.
Diabetes affects every aspect of how families live. For kids like Hennessey, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 10, this illness feels like a life sentence. She constantly monitors what and when she eats, decides which activities she can and can鈥檛 do, and needs never-ending, around-the-clock monitoring 鈥� often including multiple needle pokes every day.
鈥淔rom the day you鈥檙e diagnosed, you can鈥檛 just forget and leave it alone or act as if it鈥檚 not there,鈥� Hennessy said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a non-stop daily grind and I can鈥檛 ignore it. It鈥檚 there forever.鈥�
Type 1 diabetes affects 90 per cent of kids with diabetes, and it can鈥檛 be cured or prevented. Without proper support and maintenance, diabetes can lead to health issues including heart disease or kidney damage as kids grow older.
Together, there is hope
, a beloved holiday tradition that gathers support for BC Children鈥檚 Hospital, is back for another year. Celebrating its 31st year, the festival is being held at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver from Nov. 23 to Jan. 1.
It鈥檚 the perfect way to create holiday memories with your entire family while supporting an important cause. Enjoy all of the beautiful trees decked out in their full holiday splendour, showcasing the creativity of everyone involved.
Festival of Trees, presented by Scotiabank, brings local businesses, organizations and members of the community together to celebrate the joy of the season while gathering funds to help kids with serious illnesses in BC.
Donations are gratefully accepted at each festival location, as well as online at the .
The diabetes program at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital is comprised of a team of the best and brightest clinicians and world-renowned researchers. Discoveries made at BC Children鈥檚 have changed clinical practice and are now impacting the lives of children with diabetes and their families here and around the world. But we can鈥檛 get there without your help. Your generosity helps push research forward, and together we can create a future for families where they can thrive.
Visit one of the other five location throughout BC located in Victoria, Sooke, Comox Valley, and two within the Okanagan.
For more information visit .
