Carmel Magazine

046-074 Shortcuts_SU05 Carmel Magazine 10/23/13 5:41 PM Page 15 SHORTCUTS GIVING BACK Photo: Kelli Uldall Local Women Crusade to Cure Juvenile Diabetes Sandra Silvestri and Sandi Eason both have sons who are living with Type 1, or Juvenile Diabetes. The local women have raised funds for research and to educate others about the disease, which affects up to 3 million Americans. andi Eason and Sandra Silvestri knew each other for years profes- S The impact on their children's daily lives has kept these mothers sionally, as Eason was Silvestri's banker. Eason was aware that Silvestri focused, even when exhausted from work and taking care of their other young child, Joey, diagnosed at age 2 with Type 1 Diabetes, also known as "When Joey was around age 5, he said to me, 'Did you get the cure?'" and her husband, noted composer and conductor Alan Silvestri, had a children, now all young adults. Juvenile Diabetes. The two women became close friends when years later, says Silvestri, who has testified before Congress for research dollars. "I am betes. Both women recall the terrible moment when they found their chil- their cause." Eason's son Royce was diagnosed at age 14 with the same type of dia- dren close to death and rushed them to the hospital, then were given the so grateful to have a community that supports us, even when this is not "At one point, I told Royce I was going to take a little break from fundrais- shocking diagnosis of a presently incurable disease. In the years since, they ing," Eason says. "He told me, 'Mommy, my diabetes doesn't take a break.' " with insulin, and closely monitor their food intake. will allow their sons to produce their own insulin, and allow them to be have had to take their children's blood throughout the night, inject them "It seemed like it couldn't be true," Eason says. "Sandra and I have a hor- rible connection. We are members of a club we never wanted to be in. But it is a comfort to share the experience together." The women have dedicated themselves to fundraising for a cure, and have raised millions of dollars for JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. More dangerous than Type 2 diabetes,Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder that keeps the pancreas from producing insulin, which converts food into energy. 72 C ARMEL M AG A Z I N E • H O L I D AY 2013 Both women are hopeful that the development of an artificial pancreas free of "24-7 continuous monitoring." "We both freaked out when our kids went to college," Silvestri says. "But they don't indulge in self pity. We have to have faith that we are doing the best we can. I have so many other blessings in my life." A local walk to find a cure takes place each year in October. It is not too late to donate. Please go to www.jdrfbayarea.org. —Brett Wilbur

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