Nomination for Sibling of the Year!!!!!

A nomination for JDRF Sibling of the Year for Jenna!!!!
Here's what we submitted...


As I’m filling out this nomination for my daughter Jenna, she and her brother, Jimmy, are playing basketball out in the driveway. It was Jenna’s idea to take him out there so he could get his exercise. She loves him so much and is so very instrumental in his care. Here’s why I believe Jenna Karpowich should be named Sibling of the Year…

I've often referred to Jenna as, "Jimmy's Other Mother". She was 5 when he was born, so she was right by my side for all that needed to be done. From the minute he was born - bottles, diapers, outfits, kisses, books, etc... You name it, she was there! She helped him learn to walk, learn his colors, numbers & letters, taught him how to write his name, how to play hide and seek, and even helped him learn how to swim! Jenna and I even studied the art of giving a successful "time out" together so that when Jimmy needed one, he would get one. Super Nanny was instrumental in that department. Jimmy is tough - or is it strong willed - or stubborn - I think I actually need a word that combines all 3 of those. It took us MONTHS in order to get Jimmy to stay on a time out for the appropriate number of minutes. If you've ever seen the show, you know where the kids BOLT off the "naughty spot" and it takes the parents close to an hour to get the kid the complete the time??? It took double that sometimes. They can be the best of buddies sometimes, and then I'll hear her say, "Jimmy, please find something else to do or you will get a time out!!!! ONE........................ TWO......................." And then you'll hear him say, "OK, I'll stop!!!" She goes back and forth between being a sister and mothering him. They make a pretty good team together! Sometimes, she can get him to do things I can't get him to do... One day, for example, my 18-year-old niece (who’s brother also has Type 1) came over to do a project for her HS class. Her assignment was to research a childhood disease and tell the class about it. So, for part of her project, she wanted to present how Jimmy takes his insulin with the pump vs. how her own diabetic brother takes insulin with shots. Her plan was to videotape them both and incorporate the videos into her project. One problem: Jimmy was refusing to be video taped. He was being - ummm – well - still looking for that combination word for how he gets - let's just say he was being, JIMMY!!! Here came Jenna to the rescue. She said, "Hey Jimmy, let's make funny faces in to the video and watch ourselves!" And that was it. He snapped out of JIMMY mode and they had 2 minutes of fun with the camera and then they were able to get the my niece’s project done! He wasn't in a perfect mood, but - Jenna got him to do what my niece and I couldn't do!!! The video was done - he got through it, and it was all thanks to Jenna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is an amazing sibling.

Jenna helps with Jimmy so very much - before the pump, she was even able to give him his insulin shots - at 10 years old! Now, she's 11 and helps so much with his pump. She tests him, and she's even learned how to count Jimmy's carbs. She has attended every Molly Diabetes Education Center class, every support group, read every children’s book on the subject, visited Jimmy’s class to teach them about Jimmy’s pump, gone to every doctor appointment with him, and more! Learning how to manage some of his other diabetes "stuff" is where she is currently focusing her attention. She is a Girl Scout Junior, and for their group project, she and her troop took on a Diabetes Awareness Theme to earn their Bronze Award. Here’s how it all started.

This past summer, Jenna, Jimmy and 3 friends decided to have a lemonade stand. Jenna convinced them to ask their customers to make a donation to JDRF as well. Just about all of them did, and that’s how Jenna’s Bronze Award idea began! Here’s the picture of their “Stand”ing up to Diabetes Lemonade Stand that made the newspaper! Jenna is on the right in blue and black, and Jimmy is in the middle.


That’s what led to Jenna’s idea for Girl Scouts…

As a Girl Scout Junior this year, her troop was to complete a community project to earn their Junior "bronze" Award.

The idea Jenna and her troop originally wanted to do was raise more money for Juvenile Diabetes. Unfortunately, the Girl Scout’s has a policy the scouts are not allowed to raise money for anything other than the Girl Scouts. So… Jenna and the troop decided to turn it into a “Diabetes Awareness” Bronze Award project.

October 10th was River Edge Day. The girls contacted JDRF to get some handouts and buttons they could hand out. They also purchased pumpkins and paint for children to paint at their table. Kids came, painted a pumpkin, learned about diabetes and took home some JDRF goodies! Jenna was becoming an expert on the subject and telling everyone who came to the table all about diabetes!

Later in October, they had to make a Scarecrow for Halloween with the Girl Scouts. Just what was Jenna and her troop’s theme? A Scarecrow standing on his head to help Turn Diabetes Upside Down!!! They named their scarecrow: “J.D. Crow!” Here’s a rap-song they wrote and performed for the Scarecrow judges:

Turn Diabetes Upside Down With J.D. Crow and Troop 1416

I’m J.D. Crow and I’m here to say hello

here’s one thing that I want you to know

Juvenile Diabetes is what the J.D. stands for

Let’s kick this disease out the back door!

I’m standing on my head -- I’m upside down

Let’s turn J.D. around and get it out of town!

It’s Diabetes I want to scare

So I’m here to help make you aware

We’ll turn Diabetes Upside Down and Find a cure

Troop 1416 is doing our part you can be sure!

Turn Diabetes Upside Down with J.D. Crow and Troop 1416!

Here are the pictures from the day. Jenna is standing next to J.D. Crow! You can also see the sign they painted for the big day!


Finally, Jenna wrote a play to perform with her troop for a Diabetes Awareness Presentation to younger Girl Scout Troops in April. The play was about accepting people no matter what similarities or differences they might have. In the play, other girls were treating a girl with diabetes unfairly. The play taught the lesson that no matter who you are and no matter what you have (or don’t have), everyone has the right to be treated fairly. Diabetes doesn’t mean you’re different – it just means you’re unique – just like everyone else.

I believe I hit the jackpot with my children! Jimmy has stepped up and accepted the challenge of the pump and the CGM System, and Jenna has risen to the challenge of pushing herself to learn how to take care of a diabetic. She does it all right along with us, and of her efforts, I couldn’t be more proud. I am so honored to be the mother of two extremely special individuals. Jimmy is a one of a kind trooper, and Jenna is an exceptional sibling.

Please consider Jenna Karpowich

for the honor of Sibling of the Year.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

June Karpowich