BEANIE DRIVE TO FUND NEW KIDS CAMP
SIX years ago, then nineyear-old Lila was constantly sick, irritable and extremely moody.
Desperate to get her happy, healthy daughter back, mum Ange Liston-McCaughley took Lila to multiple doctors.
Her young daughter was given various diagnoses but no treatment seemed to work. Then, during a trip to Queensland, Lila’s condition suddenly became life-threatening and she was just minutes from falling into a coma.
Ms Liston-McCaughley finally received the correct diagnosis — Lila had type 1 diabetes.
The diagnosis, while in some ways a relief, sparked the most difficult and isolating time of the family’s life.
Unsure of what do but realising she needed support, Ms Liston-McCaughley started the Type 1 Foundation to help prevent other families from receiving misdiagnoses like Lila.
Now 15, Lila and her mum have helped build a community for young people with Type 1 diabetes.
“Diabetes was a hard thing to diagnose. (but) if she had had one fingerprint test then we wouldn’t have ended up in this life threatening situation,” Ms Liston-McCaughley said.
She said she hoped her foundation could raise further awareness and funds by selling Type 1 diabetes beanies this month.
“The majority of people who are diagnosed don’t have any family history or knowledge of Type 1 diabetes,” Ms Liston-McCaughley said.
“It is a lifelong disease that is not preventable. Lila was a normal healthy girl growing up.
“And there’s a lot of guilt as a mother — to have not have known that she was really sick.”
Ms Liston-McCaughley said that while Lila was now able to manage her diabetes, she still faced daily challenges.
“You’ve got to be all over it all the time. You have to count every carb of every meal.”
New technology, including bluetooth sensors and phone apps, have made life easier.
“There is the still the relentlessness of the disease. It’s not just a physical disease, it’s an emotional disease,” Ms Liston-McCaughley said.
She said all money raised from beanie sales would be used to set up a free camp for those with diabetes and their families.
To support the campaign visit type1foundation.com.au