Caleb's Story Makes the Local Paper

http://www.newstimes.com/ci_11901249

Danbury boy pumps up to beat Type I diabetes
Newstimes
Updated: 03/13/2009 01:40:12 AM EDT


The warm-and-fuzzy chorus of "Happy Birthday" lingered as Caleb Schlissel leaned over five burning candles.
"I wish I didn't have diabetes," he said before blowing them out.

To be sure, the wish was shared by everyone in the room, whether they were wiping a tear, biting a lip, or trying to figure out how this little Danbury boy had so much courage.

A year later, Caleb still has Type 1 diabetes, a disorder in which the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin to convert glucose (sugar) into energy. Left untreated, it can ravage a child's body almost faster than blowing out birthday candles.

But with the right medicine and the right equipment, Caleb Schlissel almost forgets about his wish 364 days of the year.

Even with several skin pricks a day to test his blood sugar and a stopwatch-size insulin pump on his back, Caleb is pretty much like other 6-year-olds.

Diabetes doesn't define him. Instead, he is shaped by moments when he jumps into the deep end of the pool, holds his dad's hand at the ballpark, curls up on his mom's lap, or plays with his older brother, Colin, and his little sister, Lila.

"He can do anything he wants. He can be anything he wants," said his mother, Lorraine Sisto. "You have to be diligent, of course. I had no idea at first how much precision was involved (with his food and his insulin).

"But once you figure it out, diabetes doesn't have to control every last second of your life. I don't want people to feel sorry for him or treat him any differently."

Not to worry.

When Caleb's kindergarten class at King Street Primary School held its Thanksgiving feast in November, Caleb grabbed a plate of food just like all the other kids. Even the kids with sugary sparkles in their eyes the size of Saturn.

Without much effort, Caleb put away a cupcake, two cookies, and a slice of pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

No matter how many times he wiped the sweet frosting from his face that afternoon, his smile didn't come off.

"He's a very happy boy," Sisto said. "He really loves life."

A few weeks ago Caleb was declared a runner-up winner in the OmniPod "Making Diabetes a Smaller Part of Your Life" national video contest. It was sponsored by OmniPod, the company that makes his insulin pump.

Check out Caleb's video by searching for his name and OmniPod on YouTube.

Caleb refills his insulin pod, as he calls it, every two or three days. Even at age 6, he understands how important the insulin is, not just to his health, but to his freedom.

"I like helping to change my pod," he said. "But I don't like the prick."

After a brief countdown, a tiny delivery tube is inserted into the part of Caleb's body where the OmniPod is attached.

Sometimes he wears the pod on his lower back. Other times, he wears it on his arm.

Wherever he wears it, the insulin pump is a much better way to regulate his blood sugar level than the battery of shots he endured when he was diagnosed in January 2007.

Still, it's hard to watch a little boy slap his forearm until it's red to increase the blood flow for an accurate sugar reading. But the alternative -- not to measure his sugar -- is unthinkable.

Rest assured, there will be plenty of birthday parties down the road for Caleb Schlissel.

One of these days, everybody in the dining room might even get their wish.

Contact Brian Koonz

at bkoonz@newstimes.com

or at (203) 731-3411.

WHAT IS TYPE 1 DIABETES -- Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar (glucose) into energy.
SYMPTOMS -- Increased thirst and frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision.

WHEN IS IT DIAGNOSED -- Although Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, it typically appears during childhood or adolescence.

HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU -- Advances in blood sugar monitoring and insulin delivery have simplified the daily routine of managing Type 1 diabetes. With proper treatment, people who have Type 1 diabetes can expect to live long, healthy lives.

Source: Mayo Clinic