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Doyle held a press conference in the dining room of the West Salem couple whose son, Adam, has juvenile diabetes. The governor was urging the U.S. Senate to pass legislation to lift President Bush’s ban on federal funding for new stem cell research lines.
“Before Gov. Doyle came to our home, we were just a regular family trying to deal with diabetes,” Marcie Peterson said. “But without that time with him, we wouldn’t have had the passion for the issues dealing with our son’s disease.”
Marcie Peterson said she agreed to have her home used for the press conference because she felt it was a way to educate people about the need for a cure for diabetes.
“I never thought about stem cells before,” she said. “I was in the survival mode.”
The Petersons were used in Doyle’s campaign commercials. Just before the November election, they and another family attended a Doyle campaign rally in Milwaukee where they met Michael J. Fox, the actor dealing with Parkinson’s disease.
“It was an amazing experience and real empowering,” Marcie Peterson said. “Michael J. Fox talked about how we’re both from different worlds, but we’re both trying to save lives. He really focused on our children.”
Marcie Peterson was motivated to become an activist, not necessarily focused on stem cells, but doing what she could to help families with diabetes and find a cure for the disease. She became the coordinator of the local diabetes walk and is restarting a diabetes support group in the La Crosse area.
She knew people were emotional on both sides of the stem cell debate, but she was not prepared for the fallout. She received calls from people criticizing her and her family. It also came from friends who opposed her view.
“I respect other people’s point of view, and I don’t hold one point of view against them,” Marcie Peterson said. “We were caught up in the stem cell debate, but my passion to find Adam’s cure overrode that.”
Yet she said she had friends who didn’t support her view, but would agree with her if their son and daughter had diabetes.
“I thought my son’s life was just as valuable as their children’s lives,” Marcie Peterson said.
Marcie Peterson has been organizing a bowling fundraiser for diabetes May 5 at Features Bar in West Salem and the Cure for Diabetes Walk in La Crosse on Sept. 16. Doyle plans to be at the walk, and she has invited Michael J. Fox, she said. She also is helping organize the Thunder Ride to Cure Diabetes on June 30.
Her other child, 13-year-old Nolan, wanted to find a way to show some brotherly support and love for 6-year-old Adam. He started the “Miracle Minute” project in West Salem schools. Nolan asked for pennies from students, and the project ended last week in the high school and is expected to bring in more than $1,000 for the diabetes association.
“This was Nolan’s way to do something for his brother and other people with diabetes,” Marcie Peterson said. “We’re realizing we are just an every day family who would like to do something to help.”
She is bringing back the diabetes support group, which will meet for the first time April 12 at the Amie Mathy Boys and Girls Club in La Crosse.
“I’m answering e-mails from moms in the area all the time, and I decided we needed to get together because they’re struggling with their children, and there is a need for a support group,” she said.
Adam was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes at the age of 2.
“Our focus has been trying to learn how to live with this disease until we find a cure,” Marcie Peterson said. “I never worry, but you teach your kid to feel the highs and lows of blood sugars and always check your blood sugars.”
Adam still checks his blood sugars every two hours, but life has been a bit easier since he received an insulin pump more than a year ago. The pump replaces insulin shots and better regulates insulin, she said.
The American Diabetes Association has designated Tuesday, March 27, as Diabetes Alert Day to make the public more aware of the disease. Almost 21 million Americans have diabetes — 7 percent of the population — and another 6 percent are unaware they have the disease, according to the diabetes association.
“Some people think Adam is going to die, or they don’t take it seriously,” Marcie Peterson said. “They don’t recognize that even if Adam has good control of his diabetes today, it’s all about 15 years from now and the future when he could have possible complications.
“It’s those complications what I worry about, and it’s why we need a cure and why I’m on a mission,” she said.
SUPPORT GROUP
WHAT: New support group for people affected by type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes
WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 12; group will meet the second Thursday of every month
WHERE: Amie L. Mathy Boys and Girls Club, 811 S. Eighth St., La Crosse.
MORE INFORMATION: Contact Marcie Peterson, (608) 786-4773
Diabetes Alert Day
The American Diabetes Alert Day is an annual, one-day call-to-action for people to find out if they are at risk for diabetes. Go online to www.diabetes.org to take the risk test or for more information.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8227.
jeanne wrote on Mar 28, 2007 11:50 AM: