As others offer testaments to the attributes and life changing impacts the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi has had on the individuals affected with diabetes and their families, I’d like to focus on the individual who is the genesis of building this organization.
Mary Fortune has run this organization for over 35 years. When Mary joined, it was the American Diabetes Association. There was no budget, the Mississippi Charter loaned money to pay Mary’s salary, her desk consisted of a board over two chairs, and there were few volunteers.
Undaunted, Mary began soliciting corporate sponsorship, creating fund raising events, recruiting volunteers, hiring compassionate and dedicated employees, and building a business strategy to address and help Mississippians find support, educational information, and guidance to medical resources.
Her community outreach included sponsoring diabetes testing in schools, churches, and businesses. She organized seminars where leading doctors from across the country would speak with the local medical communities on the latest medical technologies and developments. For the children of Mississippi, she created an annual camp where kids could be kids.
It was at the pinnacle of her work, the American Diabetes Association decided to pull all the funds of the Mississippi Chapter had raised to finance her initiatives and consolidated it on a regional level. This action would eliminate the ability to fund the new programs under her initiative.
Through Mary’s leadership, the Mississippi Chapter challenged the national organization in federal court. The outcome was the Mississippi Chapter could divest itself from the national organization; the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi was born.
Under her continued leadership, Mary, her team, the volunteers, and corporate and individual sponsors have continued a program to help those affected with diabetes to enhance their health, find medical solutions, gain a better understanding of diabetes care through educational programs, and provide compassion, empathy, and care to those afflicted until a cure is found.
Mary Fortune, I acknowledge you for your dedication to those whose lives you have positively impacted across Mississippi, your legacy in creating hope, the support and care you have provided families, and your tenacity and leadership skills to built an organization of high values and principles. Mississippi is lucky to have you!
I have been on the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi Board of Directors for over 15 years and continue to be amazed at what this organization does for Mississippians. Whenever you have the opportunity, please support this outstanding group. And remember this is the only Diabetes group in the state that provides direct assistance to Mississippians.
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Outstanding organization with dedicated and caring staff. They have contributed so much to the people of Mississippi. I am honored to have been affiliated with the Foundation for 16 years.
This is such a great group of people doing amazing things to help not only type 1 peoplw, but kids and families as well. They have welcomed my family with open arms and we do not feel alone. They have sent numerous packages of supplies, information, "happys", support items for the diagnosed type 1 children, just an all around amazing group. I know this journey with my son, would never have been as "easy" without them. Not only do I not feel alone, but the support that they offer is unmatched! True life saving group!!
Our son was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes June 25, 2016. He was admitted to Blair Batson Hospital in Jackson on Saturday. Kaitlan visited us on Monday with lots of goodies for Nathan and encouraging words for us. Irena and the whole staff are wonderful and always are willing to help. We feel like family with them. So thankful for their support!
My son was diagnosed 3 yrs ago this week at the age of 7. Without the DFM we would be lost! They have become family to us and are just a phone call away when we need something or momma just needs to talk! They are a blessing to our family and many many more in this state!
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The Diabetes foundation has been with us since our daughter's diagnosis. The staff is always there when you need help or just someone to vent to because dealing with schools was very overwhelming. The Sweet Subject education classes, annual walks, and diabetes camps are the best! We love the Diabetes Foundation of MS!
The Diabetes Foundation of MS are such a blessing and have been such an awesome resource to us. They are always just a phone call away and always so friendly and eager to help rather it’s just with info for our school or us or needing supplies! My son was diagnosed 3 years ago with type 1 and I was oblivious to the condition he now had and scared to death. I will never forget a worker from the DFM came to see us with a bookbag for my son full of supplies, snacks, and toys and assured me everything would be ok. She even gave my her number and said to call her anytime I had a question. She has become my go to friend for diabetes! You will never find a more caring and compassionate staff than those at the DFM.
When my daughter Alexis was diagnosed in August 2017 we was so shocked,so lost, and didn't know what to do... She didn't want anyone to know that this happened to her. She wouldn't check her bg I front of people much less give herself insulin... She wanted to hide. We went to camp in November and she made a lot of new friends. She saw her new friends checking their bg and giving insulin out in the open and Alexis was like look momma they aren't shy about it. She said she can do the same... and from then on out she didn't care who saw her do what.. She is always saying "this is my new life" " this is what keeps me alive... don't like what I'm doing don't look". Love her attitude now.. She has changed so much since she was first diagnosed. And I give thanks to camp and all the staff.
My Type 1 diabetic son uses Dexcom G5 to monitor his blood glucose. When we lost his insurance coverage at the end of last year, we could no longer afford the transmitter needed for the sensors. Diabetes Foundation of MS supplied him with two transmitters to see us through several months of glucose monitoring. It is such a peace of mind knowing his Dexcom is working and monitoring even while he's sleeping, playing, and just being a kid. I can't say thank you enough for the help DFM has given us. What a blessing this organization is.
The Diabetes Foundation have been a great resource for us. I appreciate all the hard work provided by the staff. I want to give a big thanks to Nicki and Irena for all your help and knowledge. Brayden was so happy when we got home from the hospital to see his backpack full of goodies. Thanks for all you do..
The Matthews
Brayden-dx 12/20/17
Brian & Alisha
Diabetes Foundation of MS is amazing!
During the scariest time when my three year old was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, This fabulous organization reached out to our family.
They were so comforting & willing to help us navigate this new life with a chronic illness. They offered support in so many ways from offering programs that continue our education to best treat & manage my child’s illness, to creating relationships between parents going through similar experiences.
They are friends for life.
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My daughter was diagnosed at age 3 in 2008. Diabetes Foundation contacted us to offer support at the hospital.
At a very scary time for us they were a beacon of light on so many unknowns to us. They shared information introduced us to other families & provided programs to help us in our journey with type 1 diabetes.
What an incredible organization who continues such valuable support in our community.
Our son was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes June 25, 2016. He was admitted to Blair Batson Hospital in Jackson on Saturday. Kaitlan visited us on Monday with lots of goodies for Nathan and encouraging words for us. Irena and the whole staff are wonderful and always are willing to help. We feel like family with them. So thankful for their support!
When my oldest son was diagnosed with diabetes we had no idea that anything like this existed. It wasn't until his fourth year of diagnoses that we happen to have stumbled upon the diabetes foundation. My son was hospitalized for infection for four days. While he was there, There was nothing for me to do. So I had this pamphlet of information of numerous places and I filled them out and the hospital sent it off for me. Well after we got home about a week later we got a package in the mail. This package was a great breath of air. And it was from the diabetes foundation. As we were going through all of the items I noticed my son's face would light up with each thing that I brought out of it. The happiest moment was when I pulled out a basketball. Like an actual basketball and he was so excited to just go outside and play with him just being a kid. Because of them I am so grateful for everything that they've done for us. We were invited to Camp Kandu that year and we actually participated. I got to take all of my children with me and that something that I've never been able to do. So while the kids are doing stuff that is actually really fun and educational for their sibling and I get to learn stuff that I've never even heard of before. Fast forward it to a year later after our first trip at camp, they offered us a trial net for testing of the other siblings. And even for them for me. So we did the test and low and behold my youngest tested positive for all the antibodies of diabetes. My world has been shaken and turned upside down but I knew that we had this under control. I had the great support of the foundation, from our family, and from the endocrinologist. I don't think I could have chosen a better group of people to of been there for my children through all that they have gone through. This group has sent out test strips when we ran out of them. They have done so much more than I could ever imagine from any foundation. I didn't even know that what they did for every body and I was absolutely in shock when they reach out and just gave me that hand that I absolutely needed. That shoulder that I needed to cry on. This foundation is more than just a foundation to us, they are our family. I wouldn't want it any other way.
The Diabetes Foundation is a great asset for the state ofMississippi. They are a great resource for people who have Diabetes. The staff that work with the foundation are always courteous, friendly and helpful!! It is good to know that they care.
"I Love The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, for over several years they have been a huge impact on my life from giving me insulin and other diabetes supply's in my time of need. Thanks everybody that have been apart of my life."
(C. was recently a walk-in client - diagnosed 14 years ago and was a Kandu Kid whom we have watched grow up.)
The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi is an incredible organization. We are very fortunate to have them in the state of Mississippi helping children and adults with diabetes. At the age of 37, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. My husband and I had no idea about diabetes and how this was going to change our lives.
I got involved with the MS Walk for Diabetes for the Gulf Coast and met their wonderful staff. I am amazed daily at what amazing things the staff of the Diabetes Foundation of MS provides for people. Whether it is having Camp Kandu or mailing out a care kit to those recently diagnosed. They are always helping.
The staff is very knowledgeable about diabetes, medicine, equipment, insulin and more. I have been recently having challenges with my medicine and insurance only wanting to cover a certain amount. The staff was able to provide me extra insulin until I was able to get my perscription filled. I could not have gone with out having my insulin. It was huge blessing and life saving to be able get additional insulin.
I am committed to continuing to support, volunteer and help in anyway that I can to repay the assistance and support they have given me. Thank you Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi.
Our daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 10. She's now 25 and doing well, and the support and helpful information we've received through the years from DFM has been invaluable. We've participated in Kamp Kandu, Walk for Diabetes, and fund-raising efforts and highly commend Diabetes Foundation for their efforts to make life better for Mississippians with diabetes.
My 6 year old son was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and shortly after we got released from the hospital we received a NICE backpack from the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. This bag was packed full of stuff from a blood glucose monitor, test stripes, a snack bag, lancets and glucose tablets to a stuffed animal and kid books about diabetes. It was awesome, and my son had the best time going through everything. It even had information on diabetes camp, fund raising marathons and different insulin pumps. They even got me in touch with some other parents of kids in my area who have type 1 diabetes too. Now,my son doesn't feel like he's the only kid in town with diabetes. :-)
DFM was there for us from day one. Wanted to know if we needed anything, and to answer questions, no matter if it was late evening. They have the best organization around! They have been absolutely a Godsend to us! I would give more than 5 stars if I could!! Like one big family!
I can't say enough good things about the DFM. They have been there for us since day one of our son's T1D diagnosis. My son felt so special upon receiving his initial care package. We were also relieved because it felt great knowing there was another team of people to help us when/if we needed it. They helped us get connected with other parents and T1 kiddos in our area and in our state via social media groups. We absolutely love Camp Kandu!! From school nurse trainings, seminars, fundraising events, and community outreach programs , the DFM does a great job advocating for all of the Mississippian's with Diabetes.
