Hometown:
Age on Race Day: 11
Diagnosis: Diabetes Type 1
Before coming to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Jaselyn and her family struggled to find a diagnosis for her stomach pains and anxiety. Doctors in her hometown considered her symptoms a sign of stress related illness. Then, one night after dinner, Jaselyn ended up in the emergency room. It was there that she and her family finally received a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and were transferred to Nationwide Children’s. Once admitted, Jaselyn met dietitians, social workers, diabetes educators and the endocrinology team. She and her family learned how to administer insulin, count carbohydrates, navigate insurance, manage the diagnosis while traveling, and how to teach others who may be caring for Jaselyn.
“I couldn’t ask for better people,” Janel, Jaselyn’s mom, says of the endocrinology team. “They saved my child. I tell them all the time; I’m willing to make the two-hour drive if it means coming to Nationwide Children’s.”
Jaselyn and her parents have a special place in their hearts for diabetes educator clinician Wynola Wayne. “Every time Wynola comes into her room when we are here, she just lights up.”
Today, with changes to her lifestyle and an understanding of her disease, Jaselyn is a fearless 11-year-old with straight A’s, a passion for softball, volleyball, and the Wheeling Nailers hockey team and a big soft spot for all animals. She loves her dogs, chickens and ducks but especially loves her bearded dragon, Peaches and her leopard gecko, Turbo.
Jaselyn also has some philanthropic prowess. She raised more than $3,900 for the endocrinology department at Nationwide Children’s through 4H and hundreds of buckeyes and fudge bars she and her Nana made.
