A TALE OF TYPE 1 DIABETES

Jasper was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and the impact was life-altering. You instantly go from being a regular parent and caregiver to a literal lifesaver, every second of every day. My Pancreas Needs a Hug was born out of the fog of that tough first year as a way to turn our challenges into a mission of support.  We wanted to build a bridge of hope for families sitting in the exact same position we were in on their diagnosis day. Writing the book helped us look at Japser’s illness in a way that could bring humour and levity to our situation, which helped lighten the darkness and bring us through the fog sooner.

On Jasper’s first diaversary, (the anniversary of his diagnosis), we wanted to find something positive to commemorate how far he’d come. Instead, all the clothing and mementos we found used negative language like 'faulty,' 'lazy,' or 'dead' when describing the pancreas, and even vulgar language like F’this!  F’that, and F’diabetes

We wanted to spread positivity instead, so we brainstormed as a family. I remember saying, 'We should just make a t-shirt that says my pancreas needs a hug.'" What started as a silly, comforting family t-shirt idea evolved into a storybook meant to wrap T1D children in warmth rather than clinical negativity.

If you know someone who has been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), or is living with T1D, give them a BIG HUG; they need it.

Jasper was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, sugar (glucose) cannot enter the cells to produce the energy the body needs, and instead, it builds up in the blood, which can lead to severe complications and even death. As a result, Jasper requires daily injections of life-saving insulin for his survival.

Children’s Book author robert.daniel.pytlyk is a former chicken chariot racing champion, street skateboarder, death metal drummer, amateur poet, pizza delivery driver, aspiring large format photographer, christmas tree security guard, art gallery impresario, award winning documentary director, livestock apparatus inventor, bankrupt landlord, pest exterminator, ceramic artist, and father of three, living in the heart of the Canadian prairies.