Friends for Life: Pasadena 2002 - Wednesday
After a dinner and pool get-together Monday afternoon at a home in Pasadena, volunteers worked Monday evening by the pool at the Sheraton and Tuesday at the convention center organizing registration materials and T-shirts. After lots of work, everything was well in hand for Wednesday's opening of registration at noon. Families also received a foam cooler, courtesy of ReliOn, to help keep their insulin cool during the wonderfully warm southern California weather. While it was hot during the day, evenings cooled down so much that some kids were cold at the pool and adults supervising them need a little extra anti-freeze.
In the early afternoon on Wednesday, Medtronic MiniMed offered tours of their nearby offices and factory to show how insulin pumps are made. All four pump companies -- Animas, Disetronic, Medtronic MiniMed and Sooil (DANA) -- also offered pump trials to anyone interested in learning about insulin pump therapy. Even Deltec, maker of the new Cozmo pump, was on the floor to talk to families about their pump that still awaits FDA approval. Parents and kids alike took the pump companies up on their offer of a pump trial. Many kids arrived at the conference dead set against the pump and left feeling quite differently -- they couldn't wait to get home to get a pump ordered.
Wednesday afternoon, young kids enjoyed swimming in the pools at the hotels (this is the pool at the Sheraton) while many teens headed out shopping at the nearby Paseo Colorado. At least one of our esteemed faculty also found time to do some shoe shopping in between sessions and dinner, though her name shall remain a secret. Families also enjoyed the many restaurants on the Paseo during lunch each day, including a great ice cream store ("just eat and bolus!").
The conference officially began with a ceremonial cutting of the ribbon by John Ratzenberger and Monica Lanning, daughter of volunteer coordinator Lauren Lanning. Conference attendees then entered the exhibit hall to enjoy the Exhibitors' Reception, sponsored by Aventis. Kids ran both the the Diabetes Research Institute booth to pick up their free Curious George stuffed animal and to the Novo Nordisk booth to redeem their special gold coins for goodies inside the special vending machine. The sticky eye balls were the hands down favorite, at least among the boys. When an eye ball got stuck up on the ceiling, kids and parents tried throwing other things to knock it down, including a Dex foam ball provided by Bayer.
The exhibit hall was about twice as large as last year, with 55 booths, 6 table tops, and 33 companies altogether (some bought multiple booths). Platinum sponsor TheraSense, at the front of the exhibit hall, was again busy with kids and parents eager to learn about alternate site testing and to get one of the illuminated butterfly pendants that could be seen everywhere. Rumor has it that they were a big hit at the Teen Dance on Friday night.
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Monday afternoon get-together for volunteers
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Volunteers organize before the conference
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MiniMed offered factory tours
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Pump companies offered saline pump trials
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Registration began at noon
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John Ratzenberger and Monica Lanning open the conference
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The exhibits were crowded
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MiniMed's giant moose was a hit with kids
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Novo's prizes were a lot of fun, especially the sticky eye ball
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Curious George was as big as some of our kids!
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