A tee for type 1 diabetic Vanisha
Amber Jessen is selling specially designed T-shirts to raise money for her daughter's medical care.
POLOKWANE – A diaversary is the anniversary of the day a person was diagnosed with diabetes.
Eight-year-old Vanisha Jessen was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on September 28 last year and has bravely fought the disease for the past year. Since her diagnosis her life was turned upside down and to honour her daughter’s bravery, her mother, Amber, will on Vanisha’s first diaversary launch a fundraiser.
Amber explained that before the diagnosis Vanisha never complained about feeling ill and due to a lack of knowledge about the disease they did not recognise the symptoms. “She lost weight in a short space of time and was constantly exhausted. After she complained about excessive thirst and urinated more than usual, I decided to take her to the doctor. I had a gut feeling that something is wrong,” she said.
Vanisha’s diagnosis turned the family’s lives upside down. Amber explained that a person cannot begin to understand what a diabetic goes through each day until it is their reality.
Read more about Vanisha’s struggles in this week’s Polokwane Review.
“When managing diabetes there are so many factors to take into consideration. These factors can contribute either positively or negatively to the situation, and my main goal is just to simply keep my child healthy and alive.”
Amber said that by creating awareness about diabetes she can help create a more supportive environment for her child and others fighting the disease, so they can live a normal healthy life.
“Her medicine is extremely expensive and luckily we have some wonderful people in our lives who help to get the necessary medicine, but we still need more help. I decided to start the fundraiser to raise money to buy her
medicine.”
Amber has had T-shirts designed for the fundraiser and those who are willing to assist Vanisha can reach Amber via the Support for Vanisha Facebook group.
Personalised options are also available.
