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Our team, Charlie's Angels, has been raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation since 2003 – the year Charlie was diagnosed.

For the first few years, we sent out our fundraising letter to friends, family and co-workers and did remarkably well. Last year, however, I started to feel uncomfortable asking the same people to give so generously yet again. I felt like they were investors in a cure that I was falsely promising. A cure that was "closer than ever" or "within reach" or "right around the corner." To be honest, I really don't know how close we are to a cure. But, what else can I do? I can't cure Charlie. I can only raise money and give it to the people who say they possibly can. I'll sell it like a snake oil salesman if I must.

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I usually have my JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes fundraising letter done and distributed by mid-July. This year has been different. I've been in a fundraising funk. I'm just tired of writing the same statistics year after year. The lower life expectancy; the long-term complications; adding up the number of finger pricks since November of 2003. I finally did sit down and write our letter - deciding to simply write what I was feeling at that moment.

Dear Friends and Family,

"A cure for diabetes is just around the corner."

"Scientists are closer than ever to finding a cure."

"A cure for diabetes is now within reach."

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It's that time of year again...fundraising! So I've written my letter. And here it is, for the world to see!

Dear______,

 On March 3rd, 1993, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I was 4 years old. It’s been over sixteen years since that day. I’ve struggled, grown, and I’ve gained and lost precious moments from this disease.

 In October of 2007, my dad was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as well. To this day, hearing that he had this dreadful disease like me has been one of the worst days of my life. Now, it isn’t just about my own diabetes, my risk of complications, or my lows and highs with this disease. It’s about my dad’s A1c, the genetic risks of diabetes, and the worry that comes with having a diabetic loved one.

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I am currently writing from my new patio set on my balcony looking out at one of Texas' biggest cities. The wind is blowing, birds are chirping, and the sun is setting somewhere behind me. I am completely at peace with my life right now.

I am also a complete bundle of nerves and anxiety and excitement. Because I'm taking a leap that will be the biggest step possible for me right now. In February, I posted this about a change that I couldn't yet release to the general public. And now, I'm ready to share the news.

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When you're writing about your diabetes life for a living, it can be hard to remember that there is a life outside of this disease. When you're daily racking your brain for blog topics, diabetes fundraising ideas, and how to market a diabetes network to the world, it's tough to keep track of yourself. But I've desperately been wanting to know myself more, better, wholly.

I've done just that in the past three years. Being out on my "own" here at college has made it much easier to find that true person that lies beneath all the health conditions. Sometimes I still get lost in the mix...like am I truly against large groups of new people or was my self-esteem just beaten down by the PCOS? But mostly, I've learned myself in more detail than I ever knew before.

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He doesn’t say "if there’s a cure." He says, "When there’s a cure."

We are on our way to Carlucci’s, a restaurant that will donate 15% of one night’s dinner sales to JDRF.

I glance at Charlie in the rear-view mirror.

"When there’s a cure, I’m going to take my pump, jump up in the air and smash it down on the ground like football players do when they score a touchdown."

"You mean you’re going to spike it?" I ask.

"Mmhmm."

"And I’m going to throw all of my diabetes supplies in the garbage."

He stares through the car window at used car dealerships and strip malls, thinking longer about it.

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