Bill offers hope to disease sufferers

My son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) at the age of 10 months. Since the diagnosis 16 years ago, every day has been a struggle to keep Luke's blood glucose level within a healthy range. You would be hard-pressed to find a family in this country that has not been touched in one way, shape, or form by disease - much like ours. But hope may be on the horizon.

There is a bill pending in Congress that has the potential to advance critical federal biomedical research. My family and I are grateful that Rep. Peter Roskam recognizes the importance of the 21st Century Cures Act (HR 6) and is a co-sponsor of the bill.

This bill is poised to provide my son, as well as many others struggling with T1D, hope that sooner rather than later a better quality of life is possible through research, treatment and innovation.

Gaylynn Skelnik

Bartlett