Family takes diabetes walk to heart

Wil Hansen must poke himself with a needle six times each day.

He checks his blood sugar four times a day. And, carbohydrates must be counted to calculate how much insulin he must take.

This is life for the 16-year-old Gurnee teen. He was diagnosed with Type I diabetes last January.

He does not complain about the shots, reading nutritional labels or even switching to diet soda.

But he, along with his parents, Sue and Don, and two younger sisters, still hopes one day there will be a cure.

The Hansens will join their first Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes Sunday at Independence Grove near Libertyville in support of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.

"The money raised will help myself but also others to find a cure," he said.

Wil's parents began to notice something was wrong as he would come home from school to take a nap. He was bringing a bottle to school to fill up with water to drink, "five times," Sue Hansen said.

"I thought I was just thirsty," Wil said. "It was my dad who put the puzzle together."

After a doctor visit revealed his blood sugar level was 377, Wil was rushed to Lutheran General Hospital, where he received the diagnosis.

Sue Hansen said his sisters, Kelsey, 17, and Kendall, 7, now will get checked every year because of the family history.

Wil said learning to take insulin shots was not unfamiliar as he saw his aunt and cousin take them before.

"The shots, they never phased me," he said.

But Wil's diagnosis has led to some changes. Kelsey and Kendall were taught to recognize the signs if Wil's blood sugar goes too high or too low. The girls also practiced giving him an injection.

Some changes have come in the kitchen, but Sue Hansen said they did not have to give up sugar.

"We bake a lot. We still make chocolate chip cookies and he still has one, but he has to take a shot after it," she said.

Don Hansen said doctors don't prohibit what Wil can eat, but do want a well-balanced diet.

"It is important for him to maintain his health and his blood sugar so when the cure comes, his body is strong enough to accept it," he said.

Wherever he goes, Wil says he has a backpack filled with medications and a testing kit.

The entire family is ready in an emergency, Sue Hansen said, saying, "Everyone has jelly beans in their purse or glove box. I don't want to not be prepared."

When the family first decided to join the diabetes walk, Sue Hansen expected to recruit a few family and friends. Their team, called iTeam has grown larger than expected.

Both parents have received support at work, Sue at Woodland Primary School and Don at the Mundelein Police Department.

Ace Athletics, a cheer and athletic organization that Wil and Kelsey both belong to, also is a big supporter. The 60-member cheerleading team will join the walk, and owner Jeff Seigal has given a large donation.

Sue Hansen said her family set a goal to raise $500. So far, they have raised $2,000.

"I guess we'll set our goal higher next year," she said.

Amy Franze, executive director of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund Illinois chapter, said participation has grown to 40,000 at the five Chicago area locations.

"Family teams account for $2.5 million of that revenue," she said. "They are a huge source of revenue and a huge source of support."

The walk has raised $50 million since its inception. The Libertyville walk is one of the Chicago area's biggest, raising $1 million last year.

Walks also will take place at Busse Woods in Schaumburg, Community Park in Lisle, Centennial Park in Orland Park and Lawrence Avenue along Chicago's lakefront.

After the Libertyville walk, organizers plan lunch, music and a children's area.

Just as important as raising money, Franze said, is addressing misconceptions about diabetes. One is that Type I diabetes can be outgrown. The truth is it's a lifelong chronic disease. For people like Wil, insulin is a life support more than a cure.

"We want to raise as much money as we can," Franze said. "But it also is a wonderful opportunity to build awareness about the disease and educate people about Type I diabetes."

Sue Hansen said the family plans to join the walk every year. Next year, she said the kids hopefully will do more to prepare a team for the walk, and Wil can spread word his senior year at Warren Township High School.

"Diabetes will not go away. The organization will never go away," she said. "As he toddles off to college, he'll be back the second week of October to come walk."

Wil adds, "until they find a cure."

If you go

What: 29th annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes

Where: Independence Grove Forest Preserve on Route 137 east of Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville

When: Check-in will begin at 7:45 a.m. Walk will start at 8:45 a.m.

Details: Call (312) 670-0313 or visit www.jdrfillinois.org