Lauren's Hope Story Contest - We won!

When Grace was first diagnosed I heard from everyone that she should wear a medical ID about her Type 1. We spent the first 5 days of her diagnosis in the hospital, with lots of time to spare between ‘information-overload’ and frankly, playing the in the playroom which was across from her room. During that time I started online searching for a bracelet that she would wear. I found www.laurenshope.com

They recently had a story contest in which you were asked how wearing a Lauren’s Hope bracelet changed your life or your child’s life. I entered our story, and lo and behold, Denise Gaskill from Lauren’s Hope called me on Wednesday to tell me that Grace’s story won! I won an $80.00 gift certificate which Grace will use to choose one of their bracelets. I thought I would share my winning story with you, along with the photo I sent them of Grace and her bracelet.

You can find the announcement of our winning at  http://laurenshopeid.blogspot.com/2010/03/our-winner-isgrace.html  They have a wonderful blog associated with their company. It was founded because Denise had a babysitter named Lauren who had Type 1 diabetes. What a great company, making beautiful bracelets and medical IDs for children and adults. Denise also gives back to places like JDRF and has donated over $100,000 to them so far. I encourage you to head on over and check out their wonderful jewelry and medical IDs.


Lauren's Hope would like to give all my readers a discount on their purchase. Use coupon code GRACE when checking out and you will get a 20% discount on your purchase. This offer is good until March 31st. Thanks Lauren's Hope! To go to their website - http://www.laurenshope.com

Here is our winning story:

On January 9, 2009 our lives changed. Our 6 year old daughter, Grace, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. We spent five very long days in the hospital, learning to care for her. It was a shock to our family and to her. We left the hospital as different people, now coping with a lifelong chronic illness.

There was so much to absorb in those early days of diagnosis. I had to learn so much about insulin, carbohydrates, carb counting, dosing and syringes. It was enlightening and also scary. I knew no one who had a child this young with Type 1 diabetes. As I spoke with the doctors and nurses at the hospital, they all would mention that Grace should wear a medical alert bracelet of some kind now. Among all the things I now had to do, I added this to my list.

I went online. I would show Grace the bracelet and she would respond ‘It looks like a boy’s bracelet.” or “That’s not pretty, like a girl would wear.” She was still 6 years old. She wanted something pretty that would sparkle. As I searched, I happened onto laurenshope.com and lo and behold, there, right there, on their webpage, they had sparkly bracelets. I scanned through to find the pinkest one I could find, ‘Carole’s Choice’ and I showed it to Grace. Her face lit up. ‘That, Mama, THAT’S a girl’s bracelet. That’s the one I want.” I ordered it right then and there, from the hospital room. 

Grace is now the proud owner of three Lauren’s Hope bracelets. She wears them every day. She adores how they sparkle and look ‘girly.’ As her mother, I wanted a bracelet that was a medical ID for her and also was something that she wanted to wear. I found it at Lauren’s Hope. It gives me great pleasure to know I have found something that she willingly and proudly wears. 

I have found strength from others in this last year with Type 1. Friends and support online that I would never have known have surfaced in our lives. People are good. It will all be OK. We will carry on with this chronic illness. I will raise a child with diabetes, not a diabetic child. The Lauren’s Hope bracelet reminds me that while she has Type 1, she never stops being a little girl, who wants sparkly things.

Penny, Grace’s mom