An Elm Creek warrior recently showed her strength in Times Square.
Hayley Bovachek has Type 1 Diabetes. She received her diagnosis at just three years old, and since then, she and her mom have been nothing but advocates for all living with the incurable disease. Before getting the Dexcom G6, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that she inserts in her arm, Hayley was pricking her fingers numerous times daily to ensure her blood sugar levels were where they needed to be. With the CGM, Heidi Boyachek, Hayley’s mom, gets blood sugar readings sent straight to her phone every few minutes, so life for them isn’t as much of a guessing game anymore.
Heidi is largely known in the Type 1 Diabetes community. She’s active online, sharing each part of Hayley’s fight — the highs, the lows, and the low-lows. So, when they first got the Dexcom G6, Heidi shared that too, and every day since then, she’s shared more and more, trying to spread awareness of her daughter’s disease.
Earlier this year, Heidi got a call asking if Hayley would like to go to New York for a Dexcom photoshoot.
It would be for the release of the Dexcom G7 ahead of World Diabetes Day.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, do I get to see the Statue of Liberty?’” said Hayley.
So, come October, Hayley, her sister Taylor, and Heidi flew to the Big Apple to take part in a Dexcom Warriors photoshoot. The CGM company wanted to show the many faces of diabetes worldwide – Hayley was just one of two Canadians there.
This was Hayley’s first photoshoot, something she’d always dreamed of doing. It was complete with a glam team, hair team, and stylist to make Hayley feel like a true star.
Model Bambi Northwood Blyth, a fellow Type 1 Diabetes warrior, was the shoot’s creative director. When Hayley’s turn in front of the camera came, she was right there with her, encouraging as the Barbie movie soundtrack played.
While she was up there, Hayley showed the many faces of diabetes — confusion, anger, happiness, frustration, and more. One of the family’s favourite photos is one where Hayley has her fists up, showing her strength.
But the photoshoot was just part of it for Hayley. While there, she got to meet warriors from across the globe and keeps in contact with some of them through social media.
“I just felt like I was with the people who are like me,” she said. “I just think it’s fun to see people that are like me.”
And they thought that was it. The three flew home and reminisced, having to keep most of their experience a secret until the new CGM device was released. But then Heidi got another call, inviting the entire family back to New York to see Hayley’s photo displayed in Times Square on World Diabetes Day.
On the morning of Nov. 14, the Boyacheks were part of the Nasdaq bell-ringing ceremony, followed by the premier of the photos on a giant screen in the square.
“I can’t believe I went through this,” said Hayley. “I think this is so crazy, like I’m on Times Square.”
A Dexcom representative told Heidi this was all from using her voice to advocate for those living with the disease.
“Look where we are now,” Heidi said. “It’s so cool to be small-town farmers watching their girl flash over and over on the big screen.”
While in New York, the Dexcom warriors went to lunch together, each pulling out their pumps and needles at lunch and guessing how many carbs each person’s food had. Hayley sat across from the Dexcom CEO at that lunch, sharing her likes and dislikes on the Dexcom G7 and her ideas for future pumps.
Dexcom also launched a new website on Nov. 14; on it are every warrior’s portraits, Hayley’s included. You can view them at www.seediabetes.com
Though the Boyacheks were out of town for World Diabetes Day, Elm Creek School students and teachers still wore blue to show their support for her, and some logged on to watch them be part of the bell-ringing ceremony.
“It refuels me to give me energy to keep fighting,” said Heidi. “We want more people to learn about [Type 1 Diabetes] and about this technology. The hope is access for all.”
Hayley and Heidi hope other children living with the disease will see Hayley’s warrior photos and be proud to wear their CGM and be comfortable in their own skin too. Hayley has started sharing more of her story online now as well, hoping any piece of it will help someone like her.
“Dexcom has changed our life in many different ways,” said Heidi. “For Hayley to get something positive because of her diabetes…she deals with a lot of not glamorous parts, so being rewarded for this was so fulfilling as a mom.”
