Valerie Damon
My hero is my daughter. When she was 4 she was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. She is now 11 and she is completely independent. She has to test her Blood Glucose Level 5 to 6 times a day and the same with the shots. She has never let her disease get in her way. She has participated in Girl Scouts, played violin, and she is my little dare-devil. She always wants to try something new and different and she is never afraid to dive right in. She doesn't want anyone to think she is different so she is very upfront with everyone about her disease. She does not hide her shots. She has inspired our entire family to be healthy and live a better life. But she has also inspired many more people. Other children see her giving herself shots and they can't help but to stare. She lets them watch and then explains to them what she is doing. She teaches them about how she lives her life everyday. She shows them that even though someone might not be exactly the same as you that they can have a great story. Valerie's story is about bravery, acceptance, and adventure. She has big dreams and even bigger expectations. She eventually wants to attend Julliard in N.Y. She wants to be an artist. She has told me so many times that she will be able to show people her life through her art. And she has chosen the right path for herself because she has been given a gift. She is naturally talented and can capture images in second. She is the child that see's the rainbow in a black and white world. She is my hero. She is my angel.
Submitted by Anonymous
