Aubrey & Peter Grabow

Co-Chairs

Brad & Megan Delco

Co-Chairs

Megan and I are honored to once again co-chair the 2024 Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Arkansas Chapter, One Party. During this event we strive to raise awareness and funds to help turn Type 1 into Type NONE! We have had much to celebrate over the years, with advancements in research and technologies to treat this chronic disease, but we have not yet reached our goal (a world without type 1 diabetes). As a result, we will continue fighting for a cure, and will never giving up. That is what we are reminded of at the Breakthrough T1D One Party.

Our connection with T1D started almost 20 years ago when I myself was diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic. After returning from studying abroad my Junior year of college, I returned home and noticed blurry vision, unexplained weight loss, and extreme dehydration. With little knowledge of Diabetes and no known family member with the disease, I was unprepared for the diagnosis that would likely stick with me the rest of my life. This news, and my “new normal,” would pale in comparison to the news that recently hit Megan and I.

On July 22 2019, our son, Teddy, was diagnosed with T1D. I can say without a doubt that was harder to accept than my own personal diagnoses. Watching our 2 year old have his finger pricked every day up to 10 times a day, changing sites for his Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) and giving shots with every single meal pulls on your heart as a parent more than we could imagine. The scary night time low blood sugars that prevent parents from ever getting true restful night in fear you might not hear the glucose alarm that could save your son’s life. Perhaps answering the question of “Why?” is the most difficult thing of all. As parents, we are determined to fight for a cure for our son, and the millions of others living with T1D. Soon the question of “Why?” will be “Remember when?”

As Co-Chairs, Megan and I put a lot of our efforts toward Fund-A-Cure Program, where 100% of the money goes to research expenditures and are entirely tax-deductible. If you are attending the One Party on June 1st, you may participate then, or you can make your contribution prior to the event online. If you would like to designate your gift in honor or memory of someone, please note that on the form and the Breakthrough T1D Office will send an acknowledgement card to the individual(s).

Research is the heartbeat of Breakthrough T1D, and we are closer than ever to finding a cure for those living with T1D. Please know that in the meantime the technology we now have is unmatched and that is because of Fund A Cure and the donations you give. It truly makes living with T1D a little bit easier. We hope to see you at the One Party on June 1st. It will be an evening to remember as we hope it will be our last… because we hope Type 1 is Type NONE by 2025.

Brad & Megan Delco

To donate to Fund a Cure gift on behalf of Brad & Megan Delco, visit HERE.

Matt Holt

Corporate Chair

Matt Holt is the Vice President of Healthcare Operations for Sam’s Club, based in Bentonville, Arkansas. In this role, he leads pharmacy and optical operations across nearly 600 locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. A native of South Dakota, Matt graduated from South Dakota State University with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1999. 

With 25 years of experience in retail pharmacy, Matt has held various roles, including dispensing pharmacist, project manager, and multi-unit leader, all with a strong emphasis on operations and the development of future leaders. He chose the pharmacy profession driven by a genuine desire to help people live healthier, happier lives. Leading a large organization dedicated to delivering accessible, high-quality healthcare has been the highlight of his career. 

Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time with his 14-year-old daughter, who excels at golf and takes every opportunity to remind him of her superior skills. He enjoys tackling outdoor projects, staying active, traveling, and making memories with friends and family. 

Contact Information: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/i/matthew-holt-13204858/ 

To donate to Fund a Cure gift on behalf of Matt Holt visit HERE.

The Kaiser Family

Fund A Cure Family

September 13, 2023 – the day I went from being a regular 7th grader with all the regular 7th grade challenges to a type 1 diabetic with all of the type 1 challenges and the 7th grade ones too.  Everyone thought I was just being a normal teenager because I was tired, sleeping late, grumpy and hungry…sleeping the hot Arkansas summer days away and drinking tons of water. But, something had changed. I’m a competitive swimmer, but all of my endurance and energy disappeared.  My mom, who just so happens to be a pediatric nurse, started to put the pieces of the puzzle together: tired, cranky, always thirsty and the final piece was noticeable weight loss. She ordered a home glucometer to check my blood sugar.  We talked about a normal blood sugar range being around 100 – 115.  That evening, sitting at the kitchen table, mine tested at 278…two hours after swim practice.  

The impact was immediate. I started crying while the number 278 glared at me. My mom was frantically working to find a place for my younger sister to go (and take the dog with her) so we could get to Children’s Hospital.  She knew we were in for a long night, which turned into several really long days.  That is when the real fun began…and my fear of needles became an even bigger challenge.  After starting an IV and drawing labs, my A1C came back as 14 (A1C is a blood test that represents your average blood sugar levels over the last two to three months) and normal range for a non-diabetic is below 5.7.  With mine being so high, it meant my pancreas had stopped working back in the summer, but didn’t show signs until late August.   My body used my muscles as fuel which is why I was so tired and lost so much weight.  There were other symptoms that I had hidden from my parents because I was embarrassed, but this led me to learn how important it is to share these things with them.   

There are many lows and highs (get it?) to having diabetes.  The lows…so many new things to learn that it gets hard to keep track of: ratios, carb counting, injections, ketones, and CGMs to name a few.  On top of that, now I couldn’t eat like a normal teen at a sleepover or birthday party, normal kid stuff.  Remember that I hate needles…just didn’t want you to forget, and now I have an embarrassing alarm that goes off while I’m in school because my sugar is too low or too high. Now, let’s talk about the highs, not just my blood sugar after I eat a spoonful of cookie dough when I’m baking (I make the best chocolate chip cookies…it’s not bragging if it’s a fact).  I’ve become more resilient and, as my mom reminds me, I can do hard things.  I’ve qualified for and competed in NCSA Nationals in Orlando in 2024 and was the fastest 200 Butterflyer in the state of Arkansas last year.  It’s harder having to manage my diet between daily 2-hour practices and weekend-long competitions, but proving to myself that I didn’t lose that part of me was really important. 

Breakthrough T1D has created a community for me and my family.  I was excited to come back as an ambassador and immediately texted the friends I made last year to see if they were coming back as well.  We swap stories and jokes only teens with diabetes understand.  Believe me, it’s needed.  I know it’s part of me, and I have gotten used to the idea, but sometimes it just hits me…This is my life. But without Type 1, I wouldn’t have met new friends or been able to help many others with these same challenges.  Thanks to my endocrinologist, I am interested in pursuing a career in the medical field and have already started planning with my high school counselor.  Finally, thanks to the donations, research, and breakthroughs, this lifelong disease is manageable for me.    

This year, my family and I are proud to be the Fund A Cure Family for this year’s Breakthrough T1D “Party with a Purpose” Gala.  I hope you will join us, and my friends, at Osage House Hall on Saturday, April 26th.  Through awareness and your donations, we will find a cure. All donations and ticket purchases can be made via the QR code included, at the website listed below, or mail your donation to Breakthrough T1D, Kaiser FAC, PO Box 1560, Hagerstown, MD 21741. We are grateful for your commitment to a Fund A Cure gift! 

To make a Fund A Cure gift in honor of the Kaiser Family, please visit https://www.breakthrought1d.org/southernstates/events/kaiser