JDRF Walk 2014…what’s in a name?

Mackenna was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May of 2013.  (You can read her diagnosis story here.)  At that very instant, we had a brand new something to pray for…something to hope for.  A cure.

So when we learned that JDRF hosts an annual fundraiser walk near us, there was no question that we would participate.  JDRF is our diabetes-related organization of choice because while other organizations are working toward advancements in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, JDRF is focused solely on type 1.  Their research focuses primarily on three areas: prevention of type 1, innovations in diabetes management, and a cure.  All three are things that a parent suddenly becomes passionate about when a doctor tells them that their child has type 1 diabetes, a currently incurable condition.  So we decided to form a team, raise funds, and participate in the JDRF Walk for a Cure in 2014.

But what would we name our team?  We had all sorts of ideas but nothing really stuck.  Our only requirement was that our team name include her name…like Mackenna’s Mob, or Mackenna’s Musketeers or something like that.  But not quite like that because those didn’t feel right.  We tried her middle name, Joy.  Joyful Joggers…Joyous Journeyers.  Still not right.  And then someone said, “What about just, Mackenna’s Joy?”  And right away, we knew that was it.  You see, diabetes is not joyful.  It is hard and relentless and painful and frustrating.  It’s an affliction that she will carry for her entire life unless there’s a cure.  Diabetes has stolen our sleep and some of my sanity.  It has taken up time and money.  But by the grace of our merciful Lord, diabetes has not taken Mackenna’s joy.  I wish you all could meet her.  She’s spunky and silly and happy and hopeful and JOYFUL!

So we registered Team Mackenna’s Joy for the JDRF walk that February.  We had t-shirts made with this verse on them:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  -Romans 12:12

It was the perfect verse.  Perfect for me.  We were just 9 months into our new life with type 1 diabetes and to be honest with you, my heart was still pretty raw and emotional.  That verse was a reminder to me of how I should cope with the weight of our new “normal”.  To hope for a cure with joy and not despair.  To patiently ride out the waves of this affliction.  And to keep bringing my requests to the Lord in prayer with faith that He’s got us.

Team Mackenna’s Joy raised over $5,000 for JDRF that year!  Isn’t that amazing?!  We were blown away by the love and support our friends and family members showed us in such a tangible way.  Here are a few snapshots from the day, taken just with my phone.

Later this month, I’ll share some tidbits from our participation in the JDRF One Walk in 2015.  If you’d like to support our team, and help bring our sweet little hero one step closer to a cure, you can visit our team page here.