Dear Family and Friends,

We've begun to write this letter to you several times over the last few weeks, but have not been able to get very far before becoming overwhelmed with emotion and needing to stop.  It must be written, though, for our son, Alexander and a million others like him. So here goes...

As many of you know, Alexander was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes in July of 2008 at the age of 7.  Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune disease in which the pancreas attacks itself and stops producing insulin, the hormone necessary for turning food into fuel the body can use. Everyone needs insulin to live. The cause of type 1 diabetes is not fully understood.

Alexander was an unbelievably happy, healthy 7 year old up until the summer of 2008. During this summer he was very active and attending many sports camps and one night began showing signs of the disease. He was thirstier than we've ever seen him, used the bathroom more frequently, acted tired and complained of hunger. He just wasn't himself, and while we wanted to excuse it as a growth spurt or just his body trying to catch up with fluids because of the summer camps he was attending, we knew in our heart it was more than that. We called Children's Hospital in Seattle and were told to get him right in to have him evaluated by the doctors. Sure enough not only had he developed diabetes, but his body was in ketoacidosis, a serious complication where the body gives off toxic acid that if untreated would lead to coma. He was admitted to the hospital for a four-day stay where we began to learn what we needed to keep Alexander alive.

Over the past 2 years we have learned to live with the daily routine of injections, blood sugar checks and food management. People often ask us if it has gotten easier and we say, yes, except when it is going badly. Most exasperating is that things can change in a short 2-3 hours and often do. This unpredictable lack of blood sugar control and the subsequent potential complications are our biggest worry.

By the time we do the "Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes" walk on May 16th it will be almost two years with diabetes, and while we still despise the disease, we have grown into an acceptance of what life with diabetes means to us. Alexander is an amazing, happy, energetic and strong child who does a wonderful job with every finger poke, insulin injection, carbohydrate count and his overall diabetes management. We are truly blessed to have such an awesome child. Our hearts are crushed when Alexander says to us, "Mom and Dad, I don't want diabetes any more".

To him, this is temporary, and we are doing EVERYTHING in our power to make sure that it is temporary. We believe in our hearts that there is a life without glucose meters, finger sticks and shots. We all know that it won't be that easy-but there is HOPE and in the eyes of an 8 year old boy, this is what he sees for his future-a future without diabetes. Our family does not want this disease to define Alexander or limit him in any way. He has huge plans to be a major league baseball player one day! We are dedicated to doing all we can to give hope to Alexander and others like him who has the challenge of enduring type 1 diabetes.

Since this diagnosis you our family and friends have shown us so much love and support, and often remind us that we are stronger because of this. We are encouraged by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).  Its mission is simple: to find a cure for diabetes. JDRF was begun by parents of children with type 1 diabetes and is the #1 non-governmental, nonprofit funder of diabetes research worldwide. It is making great leaps, and we are told Alexander will probably see a cure in his lifetime!

One of JDRF's largest fundraising events is the "Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes" on Sunday May 16th, and we are walking to raise money for a cure. We invite you to make a difference for Alexander and others like him. There are many way you can help:

• Make the tax-deductable contribution on-line by going to www. beatthebridge.org Click on, Find a Participant, then, Search for a Team and enter Alexander's All Star's

                                                            or

• Please send in a tax-deductable contribution in any amount (no donation is too small) in the pledge collection envelope and mail to JDRF/Beat the Bridge before our walk on 5/16/2010. Be sure and write participating in honor of Alexander's All Stars on the envelope.

Even if you cannot make a donation please come join our family team and walk with us on the 16th at, "Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes". We are told over 10,000 participants are expected to gather early in the morning to walk, run, share hope, food and refreshments, and to listen to entertainers. We'd love to see you there!

Thank you in advance for your support. Since this is the first year we're doing the walk, we are starting with a goal of raising $5000, although we hope to go beyond that. Together we can make the cure a reality for Alexander and so many others.

All the Best and God bless,

Alexander, Kathy and Craig