La Quinta girl goes to Washington, D.C., with message on diabetes
A La Quinta girl is in Washington, D.C., this week taking part in an effort to remind our nation’s representatives about the need for continued diabetes research funding.
Olivia Casden,7, says she’s eager to share her message with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Rep. Raul Ruiz and anyone else who will listen.
Casden is an up and coming ice skater and can show off her growing collection of trophies and medals.
This week, she’s leaving the skating aside to spend a busy week in Washington along with 160 other children with type-1 diabetes.
They’ve been selected from more than 1,500 applicants in all 50 states to take part in the Children’s Congress, sponsored by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The group is set to attend meetings and a Congressional hearing Wednesday afternoon at 2 p.m. EDT.
Casden was expecting to meet with Feinstein, Boxer and Ruiz during the day as well.
She will be in the third grade this fall.
Casden was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes in October 2011.
She has also visited the National Mall, the White House and Capitol Hill with her mother, Cathy.
“If she’s upset or stressed, her blood sugar could go higher,” said Cathy Casden. “Then when she’s not stressed her blood sugar could go down.”
Olivia Casden is making friends, attending events and using a Congressional hearing to remind representatives of the need for continued support for diabetes research.
They’re also thanking Congress for $150 million already approved this past year.
She’d love to see a cure and an end to the disease and the many burdens it imposes on her life every single day.
“It’s always challenging, but we’ve incorporated it into our daily schedule,” said Olivia’s father Brett Casden. “We’ve gotten used to it even though it’s not easy.”
Diabetes has been extremely challenging for the family, but Brett Casden says he hopes an end of the disease is near.
“I believe we can do it,” Brett Casden said. “I believe Olivia’s generation will be the last generation to have diabetes.”
The Children’s Congress is held every other summer.
