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| Letter From The Editor
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| When New Yorker Julie DeFruscio's three-year-old daughter Nikki Tyler went on the pump, she was given a medical case to keep it in, but it wasn't very kid-friendly. With the help of a friend, Julie DeFruscio created Pump Wear Inc., a company dedicated to creating cool and colorful pump "paks" that let "kids be kids". |
CureNow: Where did you get the idea for the pump paks?
Julie DeFruscio: The idea of the pump pak is really not a new one. The true idea is making it "kid oriented" kids want things that are fun and cool. What was out on the market was plain and medical looking. Who wants to wear something like that? When Nikki Tyler first went on the pump she was given a very medical looking harness to hold her pump. Emotionally I think that this affected me more than her having to be on the pump itself.
How do you design and make them?
My best friend and I came up with the ideas on what we wanted the designs to be for each pump pak. For example we wanted a flower pump pak for Nikki Tyler, because she loves flowers. The heart pump pak came from my best friends daughters who think hearts are the "in" thing and the skateboards came from my sons who are into skateboarding. As you can see this is a family project. None of us could truly draw so we went to a designer and paid her to come up with the actual designs for us. You will soon see a new "Flag" pump pak because we are very supportive of the United States.
Does your company help raise money for diabetes? How?
Our company is dedicated to donating a portion of our proceeds to organizations that are committed to finding a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. It will be a while before we generate a profit though but that is what our goal is. We also hope as one of the ways to support Juvenile Diabetes to be able to sponsor a child at camp.
Why should parents consider buying a pump pak or their child?
Each family has to make their own decision on how they can best adjust to life on the pump. Our pump pak's will bring a smile to a little one's lips! That's what we are all about. Letting our kids be kids and cool all at the same time.
Who is your inspiration in life?
My inspiration in life are my 3 children and wonderful husband. As you know this illness affects a family. Our lives were pretty much on hold for the first year of Nikki Tyler's diagnoses. Now that things have settled down I look back and thank God for the wonderful man that I married, the 2 terrific brothers Nikki Tyler has. These boys have really taken a back seat to their little sister, yet they know and understand what she goes through on a daily basis. They have volunteered at JDRF, done the walk for a cure. They are my right hand when I have to leave Nikki Tyler in someone else's care, testing her for us and learning life saving procedures. A lot of responsibility for a 13 and 9 year old. They have even survived the many mood swings of Nikki Tyler and still love her. Finally there is Nikki Tyler who like the many children we have met this past year takes every thing in stride. Nikki Tyler , our family and all of the other children and families that suffer from this illness are my true inspiration. That's why it is so important to me to see that these kids can gain a normalcy to their life. That families can look at pump options for their children that appeal to both parents and children. That these wonderful children can wear a pump pak and have a child without diabetes want one! My wish and that of my best friends is to let "kids be kids".
You can contact Julie DeFruscio at Pump Wear Inc.
