Children's Congress 2009

by Olivia Kiser

One word to describe Children’s Congress ... Amazing! JDRF’s 2009 Children’s Congress was an experience that I will remember all of my life. I loved it from the moment I arrived at the hotel because Washington, D.C. is my favorite city in the world, a double plus! The first day we had to be there by noon. All 150 delegates were already there and I couldn’t wait until I could talk to them about living with diabetes. My mom and I went to our first meeting, at which I was introduced to my international buddy from the United Kingdom, Amy Wilton, and her mother, Carole Wilton. Wow, she was like my sister! She had all the same interests as me, and was diagnosed in the same state, and we even looked alike! We were both here for the same reason, to tell Congress to renew the Special Diabetes Program when it expires in 2010. Of course we wanted to thank them as well for renewing the SDP last year. Without this program we would lose 35 percent of research for type 1 diabetes. As a delegate, I can’t let that happen. We need research so a cure is found, because with a cure, millions of diabetics will be normal again.