1. Raising a Child with a
Chronic Illness
By Sheri C.
Turner

2. Which of the following is an actual law
that protects the rights of your child
Plan 504
IDEA
ADA
All of the Above
Provided by JDRF and ADA

3. Know Your Rights!
Provided by JDRF and ADA

4. Allow Yourself and Your Family to
Grieve
A diagnosis of any type of chronic illness results in a loss of some
kind – a loss of the original dreams you had for your child, a loss of
security in their health and long life.You have to allow yourself time
to acknowledge the loss, grieve for it and then MOVE FORWARD
Music by Rascal Flatts, used for
educational purposes only.
Click Here

5. Now You’re Ready To Advocate!
Once you have moved into the acceptance stage you may find
advocacy to be a great outlet for you and your child. Get involved in
fund raising events, find out what type of camps are offered to your
child, join websites and foundations.

6. What’s Wrong With Your Kid?
Ahhh, the words guaranteed to produce an almost
immediate reaction of anger. Don’t let it! Your reaction, or
lack of it, can help change the way people treat kids with
a chronic illness!

7. I know someone who has that and
they don’t…….
Ahhh, the ever present mass of people who know nothing
about your situation or the illness that has moved smack
into the middle of your family; but they know what it is
best or they always know someone who has the same thing
and they handle it better.

8. This is sometimes easier said than done; the trick is going
to be the support system you have in place. Connect with
other families who are living with the same illness;
develop friendships that you trust when you need to vent
or need advice that really applies to you.

9. Rolling On The Floor Laughing!!
As odd as it may sound, one of the most important things you
can do for your child is find humor in a situation you would not
ordinarily consider funny. After all, this is no ordinary
situation…..right?!
The next few slides will use the example of Diabetes Humor –
all of the remarks, scenarios and quotes are taken directly from
my own family.

10. An 11 Year Olds
Definition of Diabetes
You know you’re the parent of diabetic
child when you ask her how her day at
school was and she responds with a
number.

11. Gotta Add A Little Seuss
Finding an inspirational source to help you find humor can come
from most anywhere. Like this example of a Seuss-like poem – It’s a
humorous look how the mom of a diabetic handles her daughter’s
hamster nipping her finger and causing a little drop of blood…..
When my hamster nips, Mom gets a strip
She tells me not to trip, if I do I’ll drop the drip
Then I test and that’s not a jest
But now I’m on a quest
I’m searching here, I’m searching there
I’m searching everywhere
At last! My gloves are lost no more
Now my fingers won’t get sore
When my hamster nips, don't get a strip
No test, no jest and I think you know the rest
Graphic courtesy of
Suessville.com

12. Empower Your Child

13. Celebrate! – Excuse Me –
Celebrate?
Nope, you understood me. Celebrate, not the illness or the
disease but the grace and strength with which your child
faces his or her monster: their monster is their illness.
It is very important that children understand that we see
their struggles and we admire the way they tackle them head
on.
Graphic courtesy of
juvenilediabetic.com

14. Words of Inspiration
Let me leave you with an audio reading from one of the
most inspirational stories ever put to print. Oh, The Places
You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. The story was the last ever written
by Dr. Seuss and contains a message that applies to many
but especially to children with a chronic illness and their
parents.
Graphic courtesy of
Suessville.com

15. References
American Diabetes Association , 2009. Legal Information. Retrieved
June, 2009 from http://www.ada.org
Animated Factory.com (2009). Royalty Free Website. Graphics.
Retrieved June, 2009 from: http://www.animationfactory.com/en/
Dr. Seuss, (1990). Oh, The Places You’ll Go. New York: Random
House.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 2009. Legal Information.
retrieved June, 2009 from http://www.jdrf.org
Junk Science.com (2009). Graphics. Retrieved June, 2009 from
http://wwwjunkscience.com website.

16. References
Pyzam.com, (2009). Graphics. Retrieved June, 2009 from:
http://www.pyzam.com
Rascal Flatts (2007). Stand. Music Single, Me and My
Gang Album. Daly, Blair, Orton, Danny (Writers)
Suessville, (2009). Graphics. Retrieved June, 2009 from
http://www.suessville.com
Zwani.com, (2009). Graphics. Retrieved June, 2009 from:
http://www.zwani.com

17. Click to
Return
Graphic courtesy of
junkscience.com

18. Click Here
Graphic courtesy of junkscience.com