I'd like to tell everyone about a great meeting on October 1st with Representative Candice Miller (R, District 10 MI) as part of the Promise Campaign. I was especially looking froward to this meeting because this is my district! My son, Max, and I had attended a Promise meeting with Rep. Miller before, but this would be my first time "in charge".
Paul Anstine, Rep. Miller's scheduler in D.C. helped me set up a date and I began to line up my families. One of the families, the Klakulaks, had signed up through the website and were very anxious to go. My other target was a gentleman my husband and I met last year, Rob Ashton.
Rob was our host as I accompanied my husband on a business trip to Germany last August. He and I flew to Germany together as my husband had to go to Sweden for a few days ahead of time. While we awaited our flight in Detroit Metro airport, I got a call from my son, who was staying with relatives in Buffalo, NY. He was having a problem with his pump site and had a very high blood sugar and ketones. Rob listened as I talked Max through the fix, and after my call I explained to him that Max had diabetes. About a month later, my husband called from work to tell me that Rob's six year old son, Wyatt had just been diagnosed. Very weird. We met Rob's wife, Jackie, shortly after Wyatt's diagnosis and I promised to keep them in mind for JDRF activities down the road. As soon as I got this appointment, I called them up and invited them to attend.
Congresswoman Miller is very familiar with diabetes-related issues. Not only has she hosted a more than a few Promise meetings, but her chief of staff, Jamie Roe, has had Type I for about seven years. She made it very clear during our meeting that she was supportive of children's health issues and that she realizes what a difficult disease diabetes can be. I went through our basic talking points during our meeting, then I told her that as long as I had her there in person, I would like to ask her to sign on as a cosponsor for H.R. 2762. I mentioned that another Representative from MI, Rep. Dale Kildee, was already a cosponsor. Mrs. Miller answered that she wouldn't commit to me right there before she had a chance to read the legislation, but that she would look into it. She also wanted to know who the original sponsor was.
Later that day, I emailed Jamie Roe to let him know that DeGette was the original sponsor of the bill. He answered me back and told me that Mrs. Miller was researching H.R. 2762. I was very excited to receive a call on October 3rd from Carrie Arnold, Rep. Miller's health aide in D.C., telling me that Mrs. Miller had agreed to cosponsor our bill! I think personally making that ask made all the difference.
Jill Geisendorfer
RL, Southeast MI