Why did the insulin die in my pancreas?

It's been my privilege to work with Kate and her six year-old son, Lance, in setting up his very own blog--"Why did the insulin die in my pancreas?"--over the last week or so.

Since meeting only some short months ago, Kate and I have quickly become close friends and it is a friendship I truly cherish. Her son, Lance, has also quickly garnered a special place in my heart, being one of the smartest and most insightful six year-olds you are likely to meet. He has had severe type 1 diabetes since the age of one and continues to amaze me with his philosophical attitude towards turning a disability into an ability.

He has also become quite the outspoken queer activist! Kate bought two Matthew Shepard Foundation "erase hate" shirts--one for her and one for Lance--which they wear when out and about shopping. Someone asked them about what the shirts mean in the supermarket. He piped up "Matthew Shepard was killed just because he's gay. And gay people are people too you know. My uncle Dan, uncle Pete and uncle Zach [friends of his mother] could be your sons you know". Out of the mouths of kids, I swear. Similarly, when the new batch of workchoices ads came on TV he asked Kate "why don't they say you can't be sacked for having diabetes or being gay?"

This kid is going somewhere! He and Kate speak at public meetings about diabetes and he's always writing letters to politicians. He's even met the man we all know and loathe, the homophobic gnome John Howard himself (Kate told me she practically had to bight her tongue lol). So I encourage you all to check out his blog and comment on his posts.