Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Bid to raise cash for diabetes team
A SCHOOLGIRL is determined to turn the shock of being diagnosed with a lifelong condition into a positive – by raising money for the medics who have helped her.
Amy Tarbett, 11, was told last month that she has type 1 diabetes.
She now faces a lifetime of having to inject herself with insulin to avoid falling into a coma, as well as learning to cope with fatigue, nausea, dizziness and affected eyesight.
But the Arbroath youngster is keen to do something positive off the back of her diagnosis – and is starting a fundraising campaign for the paediatric diabetic team at Ninewells Hospital.
Maureen revealed that she was having to deal with Amy’s diagnosis while coping with her own multiple sclerosis.
She said: “Life with type 1 diabetes consists of weighing food, counting carbs and forward planning.
“As you can imagine, for kids this is a nightmare.
“It takes away part of their freedom and the carefree life they should lead. I was shocked and upset when we learned of Amy’s diagnosis.
‘‘Owing to my MS, I am really worried about the future for Amy and my ability to help look after her as the years go on.
“She will now be insulin dependent for the rest of her life and have to inject herself a minimum of four times a day.
“This needs to be done 10 minutes before she eats, otherwise she could risk her blood sugar levels being too high and falling into a coma as a result.
“She also has to leave the classroom up to six times a day to do a finger prick test to check what her blood sugar levels are.
‘‘This could have a detrimental effect on her education.”
Amy and Maureen are keen to raise as much as possible for the Ninewells staff, with the money going towards general funds and helping with research into the condition.
Along with a raffle, the pair will host their fundraising event at Newgate Bowling Club on Friday July 27.
Tickets, costing £15, will be available shortly.
Maureen added: ‘‘I want to make people aware of this illness and raise money for the team from whom we have had amazing support.
“Undoubtedly, this condition is also affecting her confidence, but Amy is being remarkably strong and already injecting herself.’’