A Message from Our Founder:

We all live day to day, acting out the one thing that is unique to us…our story. Our story is ours. Regardless of circumstances, we live out our story every moment of every day. Along the way, we are given opportunities to impact the stories of others for the good or bad.

This chapter in my story started when my youngest child, 7 year old McGwire, in March 2006, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This amazing little seven year old  has inspired me with unwavering bravery and courage. Although  forced to bear the burdens of this dreadful, life altering, life threatening disease and live a lifetime full of finger pokes, shots, monitoring, restrictions, and worries that children should not have to concern themselves with, this amazing child still wakes up each and every day with a smile that can light up a room and a contagious joyful spirit.

On that gloomy day in March, McGwire was forced into in a scary new world of medical procedure, protocol and treatment.  Things that I didn’t even know existed became critical to the survival of my little first grader.  The emotions that go with that are quite intense. During one of McGwire’s hospital stays, my friend gave me a lovely card with her special words of caring support, along with a bookmark that stated “Life Shrinks or Expands in proportion to one’s Courage.” She will probably never fully realize the impact that her little package of encouragement had on me.

These circumstances have reminded me that we all can have a powerful impact in the lives of others, if we are also brave, and we live our story to the fullest to create a life full of meaning and purpose. We all have opportunities to do so much if we choose to.

We  thank our families and friends for all of their encouragement and prayers. For our amazing child, McGwire, please know that while you’re growing up, we will do everything we can to enable you to have good times, newfound joys and enriching experiences, in spite of being robbed by this disease and the fact that your childhood will literally be interrupted every day as you battle to live. Always know that you, your spirit of courage and strength has inspired the creation of the Kids With Courage Foundation. It is now our family’s lifelong commitment to positively impacting the lives of children, young people and families who live each and every day with Type 1 diabetes.

Daphna Bottcher
Founder, Kids With Courage