ABERNATHY TO BE A PART OF RALLY FOR A CURE

Vicki Abernathy of Jackson is on her way back to Washington, D.C., this time to testify before Congress about the effects of the devastating disease of diabetes that she has had since 1984. She will be a part of "Rally for a Cure."

She will represent the Missouri chapter of the American Diabetes Association. She is a member of the Southeast Chapter Diabetes Board.

Abernathy will be in Washington from March 7-10. Since she's from Missouri, she plans to ask Congress to "Show Me the money for a cure." She will speak to Congress on March 10.

March is National Diabetic Alert Month and people in the Cape Girardeau and Jackson area will be passing out information about diabetes describing the symptoms and checking blood sugars. Look for the brochures at Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau on March 6, 7, 13 and 14.

There are a lot of people in this area with diabetes, but at least half of them don't know that they have the disease.

Abernathy developed the disease while flying for a major airliner in 1984. Her diabetes forced her to quit her job as a flight attendant.

She takes four shots of insulin a day and has to prick her finger four times a day to check her blood sugar.

Diabetes has damaged 85 percent of her nerves in her legs and feet and makes it difficult for her to walk, but she's not taken her doctor's advice to be confined to a wheelchair.

And she says she won't be in a wheelchair in this lifetime, nor the next.

She's thinking of a way to get the full attention of Congress when she's there, but she hasn't decided if she will throw 4,280 syringes into the seats to demonstrate how many syringes she has used since being diagnosed with the disease.

Abernathy won the right to testify before Congress by writing an essay about why she would be the best person to go before Congress. The essay won her scholarship money to fund the trip.

Her essay was summed up with these words: "I am sure my family and friends would agree that I would be a good "Missouri Representative!" My motto is literally "Show Me" the money for a cure! I will be 50 in May, and as a baby boomer who lost her career to this dreaded disease, the greatest birthday present for me would be the opportunity to speak to our Congress and to our president on behalf of all diabetics."

Abernathy said she would have never made it this long in life without the support of her family and friends. "They're the reason I've gotten this far," she said.

Abernathy continues to work as a substitute teacher and a Cracraft-Miller Furniture Store in Jackson despite her disabled condition from diabetes.

When she goes to Washington, one thing is for sure. She will be dead serious about making a point to Congress about the seriousness of diabetes.

She spent 10 days in the hospital last fall, four of which were in a diabetic coma. She will drive home the point that this is a terrible disease that affects more Americans than cancer and AIDS. She will also drive home the point that this is an extremely expensive disease to treat. Her hospital bill alone was $16,000, couple that with $300 a month for medication and it's easy to see how it becomes a tremendous strain on the diabetic's bank book.

Abernathy hopes that the money will be appropriated and someday a cure will be found.

She also hopes to visit with the president if possible while she is in Washington and she has contacted Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Sen. Kit Bond in hopes to meet with them as well.