The Myers family loves sports.
A Ravens flag hangs over the front door. Nine-year-old Grace spends Friday afternoons helping his little sister collect her weekly NFL picks.
Having four kids playing multiple sports throughout the year means a lot of coordination and scheduling. One of the Myers children can’t find his baseball belt and recruits his younger siblings to join the search party.
The mother of this crew member is Beth. She laughed during the interview and pointed out that the Diamondbacks’ postseason mantra, “Embrace the chaos,” is a perfect fit for this household.
I am one of four boys at home.
Coming from a large family with a similar age gap, there’s something comforting about watching a family navigate an obstacle course around their schedule. I’m spinning a plate while walking a tightrope.
It’s nasty and relentless. Still, it works.
Broadly speaking, this is not a mess.
The real disruption occurred nearly seven years ago. When Grace was diagnosed with her type 1 diabetes just before her fourth birthday, she was unable to regulate her blood sugar levels.
I also have type 1 diabetes and was diagnosed when I was 2 years old.
In my experience, hypoglycemia feels like your brain is processing it in slow motion. If blood sugar levels drop enough, you may lose consciousness. If you don’t recognize it when it’s happening, your mood can get pretty wild.
I was always irritated when my blood sugar levels were high. I felt like SpongeBob visiting Sandy Cheeks. There is not enough water in the body. Your body wants to get rid of sugar in some way, and drinking is an effective way.
When carbohydrates are not properly regulated, long-term health problems occur.
Giving a child a daily finger prick or insulin injection when they are too young to understand what is going on seems like pure hell.
Looking back, I don’t know how my parents were able to overcome such a difficult turn in their lives when my diagnosis was made. I don’t think Beth quite understands how it happened to her either.
she needed help. She wanted her guidance. She came across a coffee group for parents of children with type 1 diabetes, hosted by the Youth Diabetes Research Foundation. One of the organizers of that event was Martha Andrews.
If you’re a football fan, you’re probably familiar with her son, Mark Andrews, a tight end for the Baltimore Ravens. He played at Desert Mountain High School and caught passes from fellow NFL player Kyle Allen. He was Baker Mayfield’s favorite target at the University of Oklahoma. He has emerged as one of the best tight ends in the NFL in recent years.
First and foremost, Marks Andrews is a type 1 diabetic and has had it ever since he was diagnosed at the age of nine.
He was never shy about his diabetes.
You may have recently seen him assist during an on-board emergency. The woman was in and out of consciousness, but Andrews provided a test kit so the doctor and nurse on board could test her blood sugar levels. They were able to stabilize her blood sugar levels and she got off her plane.
He welcomed all questions, even for high school students. When his blood sugar levels needed to be tested, his friends were able to prick him with their fingers.
His diabetes awareness work continued in college and now in the NFL. He has worked with JDRF, the American Diabetes Association, Dexcom, and Tandem to advance treatments and guide people with diabetes.
Many young diabetics watch what Mark does on the field and believe they can do anything. Having a good day with diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean the next day will be easier. Mark has a lot of tough days, but he continues to persevere in his efforts and knows that many people look to him for support.
That’s why Martha asked Mark to send Grace a video of encouragement.
He did so, gaining new Raven fans throughout the Myers clan.
A one-off video sent Mark a photo. And some jerseys. Grace wrote a story about Mark being an inspiration and sent it to him. One act of kindness created a legitimate friendship between the two families.
As the JDRF Charity Walk approached, they exchanged team shirts, just as Mark does with fellow NFL players after games. Eventually, Mark was able to meet Grace in person.
There are two peas left in the pod (without sugar).
Well, Sunday is reserved for the Myers’ Ravens for one simple reason.
“Marky is with the Ravens,” Grace explains.
Grace also helped Mark raise awareness of type 1 diabetes. Mark partnered with Dexcom, a device that helps track blood sugar levels in real time. Dexcom wanted to design a custom-made Mark Andrews branded patch to hold the device in place.
Grace accomplished the task.
She depicted important aspects of Mark’s life on the patch, making it clear that anyone wearing the patch was a Mark Andrews fan.
This led to Mark using the design to promote JDRF in the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign, helping to bring diabetes awareness to the big stage.
They will continue to spread awareness and fight for a cure. Mark Andrews has no plans to slow down in his work with multiple charities within the diabetes community. In the seven years since his diagnosis, Grace and his family estimate they have raised approximately $60,000 for her JDRF.
And no matter what happens on their respective journeys, they will continue to fight and rely on each other for inspiration and support.
