Meet Jaselyn

When Jaselyn asked her parents if she could donate the proceeds from the sale of her hog to Nationwide Children's Hospital, they were impressed with her philanthropic prowess. But Jaselyn didn't stop there. In addition to the hog sale, Jaselyn asked her Nana to teach her how to make her famous buckeyes and fudge to sell and increase the donation she could make. After long hours and many nights spent rolling peanut butter and melting chocolate, Jaselyn had 138 dozen buckeyes and 120 pounds of fudge. She also had a very excited community, eager to place their orders. “Our community was awesome to help us out,” remembers Jaselyn’s mom, Janel. “Some people didn’t even order, they just donated, or they ordered and added an extra donation on top.”

Jaselyn felt passionately about donating to Nationwide Children’s because she is a type 1 diabetes patient seen in the endocrinology clinic. Before coming to Nationwide Children’s however, Jaselyn and her family struggled to find a diagnosis. Doctors in her hometown considered her symptoms a sign of stress related illness. Then, one night after dinner, Jaselyn ended up in the emergency room. It was there that they finally received a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and Jaselyn was transferred to Nationwide Children’s. Once admitted, Jaselyn met dietitians, social workers, diabetes educators, and the endocrinology team. She and her family learned how to administer insulin, count carbohydrates, navigate insurance, manage the diagnosis while traveling, and how to teach others who may be caring for Jaselyn.

“I couldn’t ask for better people,” Janel says of the endocrinology team. “They saved my child. I tell them all the time; I’m willing to make the two-hour drive if it means coming to Nationwide Children’s.”

Jaselyn and her parents have a special place in their hearts for diabetes educator clinician, Wynola Wayne. “Every time Wynola comes into her room when we are here, she just lights up.”

Today, with changes to her lifestyle and an understanding of her disease, Jaselyn is a fearless 9-year-old with straight A’s, a passion for the Wheeling Nailers hockey team, and a big soft spot for all animals. She loves her dogs, chickens, and ducks but especially loves her bearded dragon Peaches and her leopard gecko Turbo.