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Boynton Visits Joslin
(posted 11/11/03)
BOSTON Nick Boynton has been a professional hockey player for going on five years now. During that time he has established
himself as a future star on the Bruins blue line.
About the same time Boynton began making the transition from amateur
to pro, he learned something else: He has diabetes.
This week, in the continuation of a practice he has quietly maintained
since that diagnosis, Boynton visited the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston to talk to children and families affected by the
disease. Its a visit that is highly anticipated at the hospital.
I first learned about Nick Boynton through an article
in the Boston Globe, said Dr. Lori Laffel, the chief of pediatrics at Joslin. It was just after he realized that he had diabetes.
He realized that this was something he would just have to deal with it. But he also said that he felt for the families of
very young kids who had the disease. He thought about how tough it would be to have to do everything that you need to do to
control the disease to a young child that didn't understand. I was so impressed to see a young man who could look beyond himself
and really understand what the families go through.
Boynton shrugged off the trips to Joslin, noting that he finds
himself in a pretty good situation.
I was fortunate when I was diagnosed, I was 20 years old, said Boynton. There are
kids over there who are two or three years old and they have to take the shots. Its nice that the kids and the parents can
see that it really hasn't affected me that much. I can still do what I do. I just hope it helps out or maybe brightens their
day a little bit.
Despite Boynton's modesty, Laffel removed all doubt as to the importance of the visits.
They
view his visit with the anticipation that a child feels on Christmas Eve, said Laffel. When someone famous, accomplished,
and talented, who, by the way, happens to have diabetes, comes to see them, there is a lot of anticipation.
When the
individual also happens to make his living by pushing his body to the extremes of physical exertion a level most people, regardless
of their health, aren't able to reach.
Its great for them to see his athleticism, said Laffel. These children are so
brave. And with Nick, these children and parents can see a young man who is healthy, graceful, and accomplished. He doesn't
let it get in his way. That really helps the parents and children.
Its great for kids, whether they have diabetes or
asthma, or are just trying to be the best that they can be. Parents are the main role models for kids, but sometimes its great
to have an external role model. Celebrities are the role models in our society and when one steps to the plate, or skates
out on the ice, and can demonstrate leadership off the rink as well as on it, its powerful.
Diabetes is a disease that
needs to be monitored constantly. But, according to Laffel, Boynton proves to the children that with proper care, anything
is possible.
Our goal as a team is to try to normalize the lives of these kids as much as possible, said Laffel. Diabetes
touches every minute of every day. You have to watch your sugars, watch what you eat, and be aware of your level of exercise.
In
Nick, we have a great role model for the children. Heres a person who is living life, having dreams, and accomplishing them.
He hasn't let diabetes get in his way. He is a champion of life.
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