Thirteen families from all over South Florida’s tri-county area, with kids of varying ages, backgrounds and ethnicities, gathered for the Deliver the Dream Retreat Weekend at the Westgate River Ranch in Lake Wales, Florida. Their many differences were minimal in comparison to the one thing they did share – a connection to diabetes.
For the long weekend of April 6-9, the Diabetes Research Institute partnered with Deliver the Dream, a not-for-profit organization that provides a respite for families facing serious illness or crisis by helping them to enhance coping skills, reduce stress and cultivate relationships. Many of the kids with diabetes at the retreat had never even met another child with the disease and were happy to experience an environment where carb-counting and glucose testing was the norm.
On the first evening, the families sat around the campfire, singing songs, roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores. Though their blood sugars skyrocketed, the pump-users couldn’t wait to compare correction bolus counts the next morning. Additional weekend activities included horseback riding and pony rides, fishing, miniature golf, airboat rides, archery and swimming, plus a costume party, a petting farm, teen movie nights, a rodeo, and so much more.
The DRI’s Ana Maria Avila, Allison Wick, MSN, ARNP-C, CDE and Jane Sparrow-Bodenmiller, RN, CDE, C.P.T. were on site to ensure a safe, healthy atmosphere, and Wendy Rappaport, Psy.D., L.C.S.W. led separate discussion groups for moms, dads, and kids, then brought everyone together for some surprising realizations. Parents explained their constant concern regarding their kids with diabetes; siblings revealed their true emotions; and those with diabetes were able to see life from a fresh perspective.
At the retreat’s end, all the participants exchanged phone numbers and email addresses and promises to keep in touch. Though they arrived as strangers, each individual left with a shared sense of belonging and a network of new friends who live close by.
Many of the families met at the DRI and Todd and Samantha Green peer over
traveled together by bus. Pictured: the shoulder of Hope the Bear at
(back row) Stephanie Yedo, Alexander Charlotte Yedo, Jake Miller, and
Alonso, Gabriela Sullivan, Madeline Giancarlo Alfonso, during the welcoming
Yedo, Karen Ripoll, Charlotte Yedo; activities.
(aisle) Patrick Sullivan, Brooke Miller;
(seated) Emma Dorante, Emmanuela
Diaz, Giancarlo Alfonso, and Maria
Rodriguez.
With the help of a Deliver the Dream Then, the two boys take a quick break.
volunteer, Alexander Alonso assists
2 ½-year-old Giancarlo Alfonso as he
pets a calf at the petting farm.
Alexander Smith and Shane and At the Launching of the Wish Boat
Lucas Wilson scale the rock-climbing Ceremony, Gabriela and Patrick
wall. Sullivan watch their boats drift away.