Supporting a motto that said, “Her fight is our fight” co-workers of Sherrelwood teacher Kayla Troupe jumped in to help Kayla’s daughter Ava and her battle with type 1 diabetes. Their generosity stunned her and her family.

 

“I am so thankful for my friends during the past year as we navigate this new journey,” said Troupe. “Her support stretches far and wide and we are blessed and so lucky to have this team behind us.”

 

Doctors diagnosed Ava with diabetes about a year ago and so far, her family has been able to keep it under control. In advance of this year’s “Breakthrough T1D” walk in October, Troupe reached out to her co-workers to see if they would help fund Ava’s effort to raise enough money so she could carry a FATHEAD, an oversized picture of herself during the parade. Ava needed an additional, $50 but her coworkers pitched in $400, which was then doubled by matching funds.

 

So, on the day of the parade at Denver City Park, Ava was near the front of the line of more than 4,000 proud marchers with her smiling face on full display. “The way her little face lit up carrying her fathead on the walk was priceless,” her mom said.

 

A total of $433,000 was raised to fund research to better treat, prevent, and hopefully cure type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the most serious form of the disease that requires constant monitoring of blood sugar levels to avoid complications.

 

World Diabetes Day is November 14th and Ava is doing her part to spread the word. She bought bracelets to give to her friends and plans to share coloring pages with her classmates at the Early Learning Center at F.M. Day. She is also taking a toy glucometer to school to teach her friends about poking her finger– they can practice on her doll who also wears a glucose monitor.

 

“We are thankful for Miss Gris and how she has embraced Ava and all the extra alarms that come with her diagnosis,” said Troupe. Troupe has been a teacher at Sherrelwood since 2013.

 

“I am thankful to work with such a kind, thoughtful, and supportive group of people,” she said.