The Joys of Boys
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[0 Comment]The Vander Ark Family
Brent Vander Ark Age:33
Occupation: Business Executive
Betty Vander Ark Age: 32
Occupation: Full-time Mom
Married: 10 years
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
CPT: You have four sons. What are their names and ages?
Brent: William is eight, Jackson is six, Owen is two, and James is five months old.
CPT: Betty, you're certainly outnumbered. What is it like to run a household of men and soon-to-be men?
Betty: Well, the budget for my clothing and day spa visits has certainly turned in my favor! Seriously though, I consider it an honor to be the mother of four boys. It's my hope that they will maintain the high standards of integrity that their dad has in both his personal and professional life, and that they will put Christ first in all that they do.
CPT: Your oldest son, William, was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes last summer. What does it take to treat his illness?
Brent: To avoid getting sick, William must take insulin up to five or six times a day. He takes a shot before every meal, including some snacks, and also a larger dose at night of a different kind of insulin that helps regulate his blood sugar throughout the day. If William's blood sugar goes too high, he runs the risk of short-term complications like ketone acidosis (high levels of acid in the blood). If William's blood sugar goes too low, he can go into a coma if not treated quickly.
CPT: Are there things William can't participate in due to his illness?
Brent: Not in theory, but there are a number of practical complications. If his blood sugar is too low before pe class, for example, he needs to sit out or the physical activity will make his blood sugar drop even lower. It's the same thing with playing sports or even going out to recess. And William is precluded from attending a lot of summer camps unless Betty or I chaperone him the entire time because they don't have medical professionals on staff, and they don't want to deal with the liability.
CPT: How does William respond to these limitations? Does he get upset that he can't go to soccer camp, etc.?
Betty: Sweet William is just like any other kid. He doesn't want to be excluded. This was to be his big year, his first summer away at camp. Unfortunately the head of the camp's medical facility made it clear they could not take "Type 1" kids. The risk is too great. I hate that William has had to learn disappointment so young. But I know dealing with diabetes will greatly shape his character, and I hope he will be able to draw on experiences like this to help others know more about the disease and how God can use any negative for his glory.
CPT: How has this illness affected your family life?
Brent: It really threw our family for a loop. William just naturally consumes more attention. Even though he's very responsible for helping to manage his own care, he's only eight and requires a lot of parental supervision. That inevitably pulls us away from our other boys. I think that's been toughest on Jackson, our six-year-old. Any family activity, from a bike ride to a trip or baseball game, needs to be planned out beforehand for supplies, blood sugar, etc.
Originally published in: Christian Parenting Today, Page 22
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