A Greater Trail teacher's children's book about Type 1 diabetes has been years in the making, yet, the result has proven be an illuminating read that delights and demystifies the often misunderstood but manageable disease.
SD 20 elementary school teacher and author David Colquhoun along with artist Stacey Kissock spent years revisiting and altering their inaugural opus "Leo's Sleepover: A Diabetic Story."
Since its Aug. 3 release, however, the book has received rave reviews, hitting #2 on Amazon's "Children's Non-fiction on Disabilities" list.
"It started a long time ago," said Colquhoun. "My son (Chris) was really young when he was diagnosed, I think he was two-and-a-half, so he was the youngest kid in B.C., and then at four he was the youngest kid with an insulin pump."
The book focuses on the challenges unique to diabetes, when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or can't properly use the insulin it produces.
In Type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks and destroys insulin producing cells in the pancreas. People like Chris had to endure daily blood-sugar checks, and at times up to five injections per day, said Colquhoun.
"We had to learn from scratch, because we didn't know anything. The learning curve was immense."
The story has undergone changes over the years, initially outlining the actual challenges faced by Chris, now 27, who wanted to participate in a hockey camp, but his dad wouldn't allow it until he could deal with his own diabetes.
Physicians at the Children's Hospital in Vancouver were so impressed with Chris' progress, the hospital asked that his dad write an educational brochure for other parents whose children had the same or similar diagnosis.
The school teacher also noticed a need in the classroom, and created an information package that proved a vital aid for local schools.
"It turned from an information package into a book, because people were saying I should get it published," said Colquhoun. "So I got Stacey and we did an original version probably five or six years ago."
He also contacted children's book editor and author Chelsea Jackson, who helped refine the story into something less complex, and more accessible.
Together they came up with the current story line, where Leo, mad at his dad because he can't sleep over at his friends, ultimately takes responsibility and learns to monitor and manage his diabetes.
One reviewer said: "Great insight. I have been a T1D since I was 12. The conversations you exhibit in your story are bang-on for us diabetics on how we describe our situation to friends, colleagues, and relatives.
"Thanks Dave for the great story and Stacey for the incredible drawings! I'm giving this two thumbs up."
Kissock's images are colourful, fun and engaging, and for her first illustrated book, her insight and characterization are invaluable.
"They are based loosely on Dave and his son," said Kissock. "Dave didn't like that I gave him such a big beard but I decided we were going with it."
Kissock worked with editor Jackson to tweak and develop her characters, coming up with different versions before settling on one.
"Basically there were two sets that we went off of, and the little scientist guy in the book, he was originally from the first one, but we liked him so much, he was coming into this book too," said Kissock.
The process for the illustrator involved working off the plot and creating sketches that reflected key moments in Leo's development. One that stood out for Kissock, was when Leo ran out of the room shouting 'I hate diabetes!'
There are too few books that address and explain child illnesses like Leo's Sleepover, and so the creative collaborators are brainstorming for another edition . . . and possibly more.
"There are no books like it for school, and I've been contacted about doing a series on Leo," added Colquhoun, who is considering autoimmune diseases like Coeliac, as well as peanut allergies, ADHD, autism, and others.
"In teaching, he sees a lot of the challenges kids have," explained Kissock. "So from the teacher's side of it, he's just so good with these kids, he ends up with special needs students in his class all the time because he knows how to deal with it.
"Dave has knowledge behind it, and as soon as he tells me something, I start seeing the images."
"Leo's Sleepover: A Diabetic Story" can be purchased at Amazon at , and soon in local bookstores.
Visit Leo's Facebook page for more information.
