regisTraTion summer 2016 · Gaby Boucher There is a new, handy tool that allows you to support the Diabetic Children’s Foundation. With Change It , you can round up your credit-card

hiver 2016

Diabetes-chilDren.ca

y o u r d i a b e t i c c h i l d r e n ’ s f o u n d a t i o n p u b l i c a t i o n

Winter 2016Volume 41, Issue 3

2016 scotiabanK Group

CHARITY CHALLENGE

2 DT1 Diagnoses

in one family

regisTraTion

2016summer

Camp Carowanis

RECIpEBy

giovanni apollo

Winter 2016 | 3contact D | diabetes-children.ca

y o u r d i a b e t i c c h i l d r e n ’ s f o u n d a t i o n p u b l i c a t i o n

ContaCtD Winter 2016 Vol. 41, issue 3published by the diabetic children’s foundation 306 rue st. Zotique e., suite 10 Montreal (Quebec) h2s 1l6phone: 514-731-9683 or 1-800 731-9683 fax: 514-731-2683Writing: dcf teamprinting: falcon translation and revision: sofia dimopoulos/danielle Gauthiercanadian publications Mail agreement #40050215 legal deposit: Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec

DIaBEtIC CHILDREn’S FoUnDatIon tEaM Danielle D. Brien, executive director [email protected]

Gaby Boucher, director - business development & fundraising [email protected]

Janie Lépine-Bédard, project coordinator [email protected]

Marie Binette, project coordinator [email protected]

tatiana Donet, accounting [email protected]

Ginette Vigneux, administrative coordinator [email protected]

Juliana Braveza, secretary/receptionist [email protected]

CaMP CaRoWanIS tEaM Danielle D. Brien, executive director Marie Binette, camp directorJanie Lépine-Bédard, administrative directorandréane Vanasse, head nurse

Dcf Board of DirectorsThe execuTiveMarcel Proulx – President of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Fundraising Committee Pharmacist-Owner, Jean Coutu Group

André G. Plourde – Vice-president Senior Vice-president, Colliers Canada

Patrice Vézina, FPAA, CRM – Vice-president President and CEO, Vézina Assurances

Jean-Charles Angers – Secretary and Treasurer Executive Director, RBC Capital Markets Real Estate Group

aDminisTraTorsStéphane Arsenault – Chair of the Nomination Committee Arsenault Lemay Arpenteurs-Géomètres

Patricia Curadeau Grou Past Strategic Advisor to the CEO, National Bank of Canada

Luc de Laboursodière – Board member President, UltiMM Real Estate

Michel Lacasse – Adm. A. CMC VP business development AXON

Philippe Grubert – CPA, CA Partner-in-charge, Audit, KPMG

Meranda Nakhla, MD – Chair of the Education and Scientific Committee Montreal Children’s Hospital

Charles Porteous – Chair of the Communications and Marketing Committee President, Seefeld Marketing International

honorary memBersHarvey J. Guyda, MD Former President

Sylvia Cruess, MD Former Vice-President

Alan J. Turner Honorary President

Advertisements or services offered in this publication should not be construed as an endorsement by The Diabetic Children’s Foundation. Reproduction is prohibited without prior permission from the publisher.

contentA Word from dAnielle ............................ 4

deli-delicious ..............................................5

This summer AT cAmp .................................6

donATing .........................................................8

finAnces ..........................................................9

TWofold chAllenge ...............................10

everydAy heroes ...................................... 13

you Were There .........................................14

4 | Winter 2016 contact D | diabetes-children.ca

We also believe that with your help and support, our children and teenagers can rise above the challenges they face each and every day. And this issue makes that clear.

In order to guide and support you in your efforts, we pro-vide you with the necessary “tools”: the Family Sympo-sium on April 9, Let’s Talk over Coffee serie in your area, Camp Carowanis sessions (this year with an innovative new feature for 7-year-olds!), to name but a few. Do you have questions, suggestions or proposals? We are just a phone call or mouse click away!

You will notice significant changes over the next few months… Your Foundation is looking to the future and making necessary updates to better reach you, wher-ever you may be in Quebec.

See you along the way!

There is so much I would like to discuss with you today, but can only touch on a few subjects – for the sake of brevity. One thing’s for sure: I hope 2016 lives up to our highest ideals and expectations.

With every edition of Contact D, we connect with you and your family, and meet the daily challenges of diabetes. We read your posts on Facebook. We open up to each other in person or over the phone. We are by your side. We live with diabetes, we are parents of diabetic children or teenagers. We are here for you and with you.

Within our limited means, we support and believe in research towards a cure for Type 1 diabetes. However, between now and then, there is today and tomorrow… here and now. This is where the Diabetic Children’s Foundation comes in.

A woRd fRom dANIELLEDanielle Brien, Executive Director


Courtesy of Giovanni Apollo

PréParation1) In a large saucepan over high heat, fry bacon and

onions in olive oil for 4 minutes. Add carrots; sauté over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add maple syrup and sauté 2 more minutes.

2) Pour beans into the pan. Add the chicken broth and bay leaf, then bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

3) Remove bay leaf. Add parsley and blend with a hand-mixer.

4) Adjust seasoning and serve hot.

mApLE, BEAN & BACoN Soup

Deli- elicious

ingreDients1 ½1⁄2 cups cooked canned beans (red or Roman beans), rinsed6 slices of bacon, diced2 carrots, finely diced1 onion, chopped1⁄2 bunch parsley, chopped1 tbsp olive oil3 cups of chicken broth1 bay leaf5 tbsp maple syrupSalt and pepper

nutrition Facts

Per portion (1/4)Calories: 298Protein: 13 gCarbohydrates: 40 gFat: 14 gFibre: 6 gSodium: 378 mgCarbohydrate serving: 2 1⁄2


Dates RegistRation Fees

Camp Fees

RegistRation DeaDline

Session 1 Sunday, July 3 -Thursday, July 14 $140 $990 May 20, 2016

Introductory Program (ages 7 to 9)

Saturday, July 9 -Thursday, July 14 $140 $475 May 20, 2016

Session 2 Sunday, July 17 - Thursday, July 28 $140 $990 May 20, 2016

Session 3 Sunday, July 31 - Friday, August 12 $140 $990 May 20, 2016

Leaders Program(age 16) Sunday, July 3 - Friday, August 12 $140 $2,180 April 30, 2016

Family Weekend Friday, August 19 - Sunday, August 21 $70 Ages 0-12: $55Age 12+: $140 June 30, 2016

this summer at camp

regisTraTion

2016summer

Camp Carowanis

Preparations are already underway for Camp Carowanis’ 2016 season and it’s time to register!

This year, the winds of change are blowing, with registra-tion forms now available online. Simply go to our website (www.campcarowanis.ca) and click on REGISTRATIONS. It is a fast and efficient way to sign your children up for a magical stay.

Registration forms will also be mailed to you, as usual.

Please note that camp dates have changed this year: sessions start Sunday rather than Monday and end Thursday or Friday.

We look forward to seeing you this summer!


In an effort to meet the needs of diabetic children’s families, Camp Carowanis has developed a brand-new program for summer 2016. In order to allow younger children to attend camp, as well as give a chance to those for whom 12 days away from home may seem a little long, we have created a one-week program for chil-dren 7 to 9 years of age.

Children who are 8 and 9 years old can therefore choose if they wish to stay 6 days and 5 nights or 12 days and 11 nights.

This special week, for children 7 to 9 years of age, will be held from Saturday, July 9, to Thursday, July 14, 2016.

Our goal is to introduce these children and their families to the camp, allowing them to explore the site, learn how Camp Carowanis works and meet its wonderful staff!

They will be fully integrated with other campers and take part in a wide variety of activities, so it is safe to assume that these children will be “bitten by the camp bug” and find, like so many before them, a second family!

THIS SummER, THE CAmp offERS A NEw pRoGRAm!

guess What?


onating

As you know, The Diabetic Children’s Foundation relies on the generosity of its donors. Year after year, you put your trust in us, for which we are deeply grateful. Still, fundraising remains at the heart of our daily concerns.

Your donations help fund support activities for children and families (Family Symposium, Let’s Talk over Cof-fee, etc.), for Quebec health professionals specializing in paediatric diabetes (Professionals Symposium), and ensure the continued success of Camp Carowanis.

In order to meet the needs of our clientele, we organize many fundraisers every year: our annual donation cam-paign, sports challenge, gala, auction, raffle and much more. What is your preferred way of donating to your cause?

Gaby Boucher

There is a new, handy tool that allows you to support the Diabetic Children’s Foundation.

With Change It, you can round up your credit-card or mobile-wallet purchases to the nearest dollar and do-nate the difference to the Diabetic Children’s Founda-tion. Small change, big difference. To get started, simply:

1. Register your RBC or BMO credit card at ca.changeit.com

2. Choose The Diabetic Children’s Foundation as your charity of choice.

3. Set your monthly donation limit.

You can then track your donations online at any time, control your rounding preferences and even set a month-ly maximum. You will also receive monthly summaries as well as an official receipt for income-tax purposes for every penny you donate.

Change It also allows you to donate to the Diabetic Children’s Foundation using your Air Miles Cash Miles. For every 95 miles re-deemed from your Cash balance, $10 will

go to The Diabetic Children’s Foundation. To make a do-nation, simply:

1. Log on to www.airmiles.ca, click on “Collector Cor-ner” and select “Let’s do some good” from the drop-down menu.

2. Use your Cash Miles to get a donation code via the Air Miles Charity Platform.

3. Click on the link in your confirmation email to make your donation.

Because you, too, take the well-being of Type 1 dia-betic children and their families to heart, sign up for Change It today!


Parents of diabetic children under age 18 may claim the Family Caregiver Amount (FCA). However, if the child in question qualifies for a Disability Tax Credit (DTC), other tax credits are available.

Is your diabetic child eligible for a DTC? Yes, provided Form T2201 is filled out and certified by a medical prac-titioner and approved by the Canada Revenue Agency.

TAx CREdITS foR pARENTS of dIABETIC CHILdRENFrédéric Lauzon, father of Florence who lives with diabetes

FinancesNew tax credits are then available and may be claimed on either parent’s tax return.

1 For the 2015 fiscal year, the DTC entitles you to a $7,899 non-refundable tax credit for your child.

2 You may also claim up to $4,607 for each child under 18. However, this supplement may be reduced if you or your spouse claims child-care expenses.

3 You may also claim an additional $500 under the children’s arts or fitness tax credit.

Please note that if your child was eligible for a DTC prior to 2015, as per medical form T2201, you may request a reassessment to claim disability tax credits going back up to 10 years.

Finally, see if you qualify for the provincial or federal Medical Expenses Tax Credit. Expenses must exceed a preset minimum amount, and the credit is based on your revenue. Still, one must be careful regarding allowable expenses.


FamilY

TwofoLd CHALLENGE: 2 dIABETICS IN oNE fAmILYMarie Binette

A diabetes diagnosis comes as a shock to any family, never mind two diagnoses back-to-back. We asked Stéphanie Rieux, mother of three boys – Antoine, age 8; Jérémy, 6; and Maxime, 4 – to share her family’s story.

In July 2014, Jérémy started drinking and urinating ex-cessively. After he attended a party at his cousin’s, where he could eat candy to his heart’s content, Stéphanie, a medical technologist, flashed back to her biochemistry classes and obtained a blood-glucose monitor at work. Her suspicions were confirmed: Jérémy’s blood-sugar level was sky high. After a visit to the emergency room, the results came in and the family found out they would now have to learn to live with Type 1 diabetes.

At their first doctor’s appointment, Stéphanie expressed concern that Jérémy’s brothers might soon be diagnosed

as well. She was told this is fairly uncommon and several years generally elapse between diagnoses. The whole family stayed positive and decided to enjoy their camping trip anyway. As long as there was good cell phone reception so they could consult the clinic about Jérémy’s insulin dosage... and figure out how many carbohydrates a S’more contained!

On this trip, Maxime became potty-trained. He started using the potty, which made him very happy because, since he had to pee so often, he earned a lot of stick-ers. Stéphanie tried to calm her fears, reminding herself about what the doctor had said.

On the morning of August 12, barely two weeks after Jérémy’s diagnosis, Maxime held his finger out to Mommy


as she was testing his older brother’s blood sugar. Trying to allay her fears, Stéphanie tested her youngest son’s blood sugar. 26 mmol/L. She washed her hands thor-oughly and tested her own blood sugar to make sure the glucose monitor was working properly.

“I was in total shock. An hour must have passed […] before I could tell Yannick (the boys’ father). We were devastated. […] We didn’t even know how to count carbohydrates and suddenly had not one but two diabetics on our hands.”

How did you manage to get over the initial shock?I saw a therapist, to take stock, and took up meditation. But with three young children, you have to accept the fact that your family’s life has been turned upside down. A year later, it’s fair to say we’ve started to lead “normal” lives again.

Do you think going through this “together” has made it easier for the boys to accept?In a way, yes. Jérémy suddenly got over his own fear and wanted to help his brother adapt. Jérémy injected himself first and then held his brother’s hand to com-fort him.

Are you afraid the extra attention given to the two boys with diabetes might affect Antoine? One of my fears is that my oldest might feel somewhat neglected and left out. Especially given that he’s such a good, sensible boy. So we had a talk with him, to find out if he did feel left out, and then come up with solu-tions. Since Antoine is older and can stay up later than his brothers, we take that opportunity to spend quality time alone with him.

Any advice for other parents of diabetic children?Hang in there and be patient. The first year is by far the hardest. One has to accept that not everything will be perfect. Attend events held by the Diabetic Children’s Foundation. Our kids loved meeting other diabetic chil-dren there. And it felt good to chat with other parents who understand what we deal with on a daily basis.

Questions For stéPhanie

Are there advantages to having diabetes?I get to eat candy when my blood sugar’s low! I like my Pod (his insulin pump), because I can eat pizza at the school cafeteria. Plus we get to go to the camp for dia-betic children during summer vacation.

What’s better: two diabetics in the family, or just one?Just one, because it would mean less work for Mom, and Maxime’s too young.

What does diabetes mean to you?It’s an incurable disease. You get shots all the time. You just catch it. It’s not because you ate too much candy.

Do you feel different from your brothers because you’re not diabetic?Kind of, yes. Because they check their blood sugar while I set the table. And sometimes they get to eat candy and I don’t. But I wouldn’t want to have diabetes like them.

Do you sometimes help your brothers with their dia-betes? If so, how?Yes. I bring them their blood-testing kit. I’ve even given them their insulin bolus. Sometimes I check the numbers Jérémy enters into his pump.

Here’s hoping this wonderful family’s resilience and positive attitude gives all our readers hope and faith.

We thank Stéphanie, Yannick, Antoine, Jérémy and Maxime for sharing their story with us!

Questions For JérémY

Questions Pour antoine


moVe it!They must constantly outdo themselves and forge ahead despite the obstacles in their path. Heroes are just that: children who take care of themselves and overcome the daily challenges of diabetes. Here is proof of the feats achieved by two amazing children: • Esther Buhendwa, a Grade 5 student at Pierre-

de-Coubertin Elementary School, who, with the help of her teammates, led her school to first place at the RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) “Elite” cross-country championships. Thanks to the athletics program offered at her school, Esther practices several sports and doesn’t consider dia-betes an obstacle.

• Audrey-Anne Roch, 14, has lived with diabetes for most of her life. She has learned to accept and deal with the disease. Proud of her daily accomplish-ments, she has never let diabetes take over her life. Practicing karate for over six years now, Audrey-Anne has a positive attitude and refuses to let diabetes stop her from pursuing her dreams.

Children living with diabetes can and do meet the daily challenges imposed by their disease. It is not the num-ber of medals won, but their perseverance that makes them heroes.

Heroes are the personification of courage, hope and dedi-cation. Heroes are brave, inspiring and worthy of ad-miration. Though you may not be aware of it, you all know heroes. Life daily with diabetes is filled with challenges.

EvERYdAY HERoESJanie Lépine-Bédard


Last Halloween, 17 schools across Quebec raised money for The Diabetic Children’s Foundation using piggy banks, for a grand total of $11,853.69. Thank you to all participants!

HALLowEEN moNEY-Box CAmpAIGN

On January 16, prospective Leaders for summer 2016 were invited to spend a day at camp, in winter, to get to know each other and learn more about the program.

Twelve young men and women turned up, and the day was a roaring success! After lunching in the great out-doors, snowshoeing around the camp, riding Crazy Car-pets down the stairs to the beach several times and treetop trekking winter-style, everyone enjoyed their hot cocoa and the cozy fireplace.

One can become a Leader in 2016 without having taken part in this special day, but it’s safe to say this wonderful Saturday promises to have a lively, closely-knit bunch in store for us next summer!

LEAdERS dAY 2016

You were there

The Pediatric Diabetology Professionals Symposium was held in Quebec City on October 15 and 16, 2015. The sixth annual symposium was a great success for the 100-odd health professionals in attendance. Our heart-felt thanks to our main partner, Medtronic, as well as to the organizing committee: Isabelle Bouchard, MD; Céline Huot, MD; Martine Landry, MD; Laurent Legault, MD; and Marylène Amyot, RN.

pRofESSIoNALS SYmpoSIum

The last Christmas Party, held December 12, 2015, was all about family fun. Young and old alike had a blast at Funtropolis and loved the gifts distributed by Santa Claus and his elves!

CHRISTmAS pARTY

Documents

regisTraTion summer 2016 · Gaby Boucher There is a new, handy tool that allows you to support the Diabetic Children’s Foundation. With Change It , you can round up your credit-card