Bengaluru: Make-A-Wish Foundation grants Deepavali gifts to children with type 1 diabetes; spreading joy and positivity

By JahnaviBENGALURU: For four-year-old Aryan Prajwal, each day involves taking insulin at least three times with an injector pen—a routine since he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just nine months old.

But Friday brought him a reason to celebrate as he received a bicycle, which he wished to ride around his neighbourhood with his sister, as a Deepavali gift from the Make-A-Wish Foundation at the Karnataka Institute of Endocrinology and Research (KIER).

Like Aryan, 24 children aged between 3 and 17—many from underprivileged backgrounds—saw their Deepavali wishes granted. All of them live with Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the body produces little to no insulin, creating a lifelong dependence on external insulin.Many of these children were diagnosed before the age of five and have been taking insulin three to four times daily with injector pens. Several can now administer it themselves, even at school before lunch. Doctors say that with proper care and discipline, they can lead normal lives.When representatives from the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Bangalore Chapter met the children to learn about their wishes, most asked for bicycles to help them exercise, play with friends, and assist their parents with small chores.

Older kids requested laptops or tablets for their studies, while one child wished for a remote-controlled car. As the gifts were handed out, smiles lit up their faces; some began riding their cycles right away."Getting these gifts helps instil a sense of positivity in children. Research shows that wish-granting can increase adherence to treatment," said Dr. Santhosh O.S., Associate Professor, Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Endocrinology, KIER.KIER’s paediatric wing treats children with Type 1 diabetes from across Karnataka. For many families, it is often surprising to learn that children, too, can develop diabetes—but the hospital has fostered a strong sense of community among them."My daughter, who is 10, suddenly started losing weight, and after many tests, we learnt she had diabetes. We had never seen anyone her age with it and were very worried. But here, we saw many kids in the same situation.

That gave us courage, and my daughter became bolder seeing others like her," said Venkata Swamy, who brought his daughter from KGF.Similarly, Radhamma from Nelamangala recalled feeling lost when her 13-year-old daughter was admitted to the ICU after spells of fatigue and weight loss, eight months ago. "We were referred here, and now we have more knowledge to deal with the disease and empower my daughter. We come here every three months," she said.