One of my favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid is the chance to connect with other moms in our community. Often times these connections inspire me and remind me of the ability of one person to make a difference. It is with this in mind that Macaroni Kid Springfield recently launched a new article series to spotlight these special women. My hope is to introduce you to some amazing moms living right in our communities who not only are doing unique and wonderful things but also deserve to have some attention brought to their mission.
Amy Cutler has been a Macaroni Kid newsletter subscriber for years! I recently reached out to her as I plan to support her fundraising walk this fall. Please get to know this local mom a little better by reading her answers to our questions.
What is your MISSION? What do you want to accomplish?
The mission of Alexis’ Avengers is to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes and to raise funds to research ways to make Type 1 diabetes more livable and to eventually find a cure and also bring together families with children who also have Type 1 diabetes.
What is your MISSION? What do you want to accomplish?
The mission of Alexis’ Avengers is to raise awareness of Type 1 diabetes and to raise funds to research ways to make Type 1 diabetes more livable and to eventually find a cure and also bring together families with children who also have Type 1 diabetes.
What inspired/encouraged you to start raising money this way? Is there one specific moment when you knew this was what you wanted to do?
My daughter, Alexis, was diagnosed a year ago with Type 1 diabetes. Once the cloud of shock cleared and the realization that our lives had changed forever I started to reach out to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) community and of course wanted to do anything to help find a cure and realized that our area (Western Ma) needed more awareness.
How did your life before children influence the mom you are today? (Work, experiences) What part do your children play in your current mission?
Before children and now my life has always been influenced by my family. They always taught me to come together in a crisis and do what it takes to get through it. When Alexis was diagnosed my whole family came together and even a year later they are still right beside me!
My children are the reason for my mission to raise awareness. Before Alexis was diagnosed I knew nothing about the disease and I found so many other people didn’t either. Also if I can be there for one family through their first year of diagnosis then I am doing something right and then my mission is working!! I remember the lost feeling I had when Alexis was diagnosed and I want families to understand you are not alone and everything you are feeling and going through other Type 1 families have been through the same thing.
What lessons/values are you learning through this process? What lessons/values do you hope your kids are learning?
Every day we learn something new with this disease. It has taught us all to be more aware, aware of what she is eating, aware of her activity and how it affects her blood sugar, aware of any signs that her blood sugar is dropping quickly or going up quickly.
I hope my kids learn that even though life throws you a curve ball it shouldn’t stop you from living. I think the hardest thing for families of children with diseases is to put them in a bubble to protect them but you cannot do that, even though you are afraid you have to let them live life to the fullest and experience everything they can. I also want my kids to learn that when you are thrown a curve ball to use your skills and talents to make the best of it.
What do you do to take care of yourself and how do you make time to do it?
Being a single mom with 3 kids keeps me on the go but I do need to work on finding more time for myself. I do try every day to keep moving whether it be a walk around the building at lunch, squats in between meetings or a Zumba class. Music is one of my favorite things so I make it a point to always try and have music on.
What can we do to support you in the community?
Learn the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes and help spread awareness. So many children are hospitalized or worse because the warning signs can be misinterpreted for other things.
Join Alexis’s Avengers HERE, we are a team that raises money and awareness for Type 1 diabetes. We do an annual walk, this year it is on October 16th at Six Flags.
Throughout the year we have events to help raise money and awareness. Our next event is at Let’s Yo in East Longmeadow on June 23rd.
We have a Facebook Group that you can join HERE.
If you know a child that has been diagnosed and would like to join the local support group we are starting, please contact me at acutler78@comcast.net or 413-949-1726.
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- HEATHER MONSON is on a mission to make sure children and families are mindful of others and compassionate to one another.
- MICHELLE CREAN is on a mission to empower women to achieve their fitness goals and to live a healthier lifestyle by providing in-home personal training and fitness nutrition guidance.
- SARAH REILLY is on a mission to bring more awareness and acceptance to the local Autism community.
