Rylan faces a life long struggle as his pancreas no longer produces the insulin needed to keep him alive. We are able to manage this incurable disease but we cannot control it. Every minute of everyday is a constant balancing act between activities, food, emotions, and insulin...always praying that our hard work will minimize the devastating complications of this disease, but there is no guarantee. Rylan's days of being a carefree child are over. He can't just hop on his bike and go for a ride, or grab a snack ~ He needs to test his blood sugar first. Normal blood sugars run between 70-140 mg/dl...Some days we SUPERSTARS, and some days are bad, and some days are just ugly. High blood sugars make Rylan feel irritable, thirsty, nauseous, and gives him headaches, if left untreated he would develop diabetic ketoacidosis which could eventually lead to death. Insulin is used to treat his highs...Low blood sugars make Rylan feel shaky, confused, lethargic and have blurred vision, if left untreated he could have a seizure leading to a coma and quickly to death. Carbs are usually used to treat his lows, but in am emergency we would use a gluagon shot, we carry it everywhere. Both highs and lows are hard...the daily battles of highs and lows are dangerous and threaten his life everyday...We have to have supplies with us 24/7, meals are planned, even snacks have to be planned. We do this all to prevent or prolong complications later in his life. We are trying to save those beautiful blue eyes, his limbs, his kidneys, his heart, his smile, his spirit, his life...it has been so hard to deal with the everyday stress, just wishing everyday that I could take all his pain away...Not a single day goes by without a prayer for a cure...Insulin is NOT a cure...only a treatment.

Rylan has shown us unimaginable courage and strength, his courage inspires us. So many days are hard, but he goes on. We try to make the best of a very difficult situation...We do not understand God's plan but we have to remember it is ALWAYS good... Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future....

We can NEVER lose HOPE...that a cure will be found...