Kids with diabetes need local pediatric endocrinologist

Lisa Taylor

Date published: 7/13/2006

I would like to comment on the recent Page One story about expanded children's services at Mary Washington Hospital ["Children's care expanded at MWH," July 9].

As a mother of a 16-year-old who has had Type 1 diabetes since she was 10 months of age, I was excited to see the article.

But once I read it, I was disappointed to learn that MWH still does not have a pediatric endocrinologist.

There are more than 100 families in the Fredericksburg area who have children with this chronic disease, and we must travel over 100 miles round-trip for our children to be seen.

I am a member of the Juvenile Diabetes support group, which is sponsored in part by MWH. I also co-chair the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's annual Fredericksburg walk, which has raised more than $100,000 over the past three years.

I wish MWH would get with the program and realize there are a lot of children here in need of this type of specialist. We are getting tired of waiting.

There are veterinarians virtually on every corner in this town. Why can't we get one good endocrinologist for our kids?

Spotsylvania

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Date published: 7/13/2006