Profile-by-NikkiK

Kimberley Chisolm

“I had always had this sense that I had lived this charmed life. I was one of four kids and I grew up in Atherton and had very happy memories of childhood. My parents were happily married and we were a close knit family, life was fun. But even as a kid, I had this sense that something terrible was going to happen. I think part of it was that nothing terrible never had happened.” Writer, Mother and Vice President of Research at JDRF Kimberly Chisolm recounts. Settled comfortably on her family room couch Kimberly’s infectious gaze and bubbly demeanor has me instantly hooked, leaving me hanging on to every last word that is spoken. Streaks of pink strands are woven through her platinum blonde hair adding a lightheartedness to Chisolm’s persona. Her three kids Quentin, 7, Aiden, 12, and Will, 15, maintain a strong presence in the house and the sounds of their dialogues can be heard from rooms away. A collection of carefully picked photorealism paintings adds to the aesthetically enhanced decor of her cozy house set in the heart of Menlo Park. Suddenly Kimberly’s bubbly demeanor diminishes and her upbeat tempo halts to a slower rhythm. You can feel the pain encompass her as the next slew of words leave her mouth “..then suddenly the other shoe did fall.”

parent for the doctor to say this has nothing to do with

In the span of two years Kimberly’s family was

hit hard with four medical emergencies. Her husband Bill’s intense athletic regime eventually took its toll and he was subject to an open heart operation. Closely after, Kimberley was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. Following her diagnosis came another shock, Kimberly’s mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer but was able to overcome it due to immediate medical attention. But it was her son’s

lifestyle this is an autoimmune condition.”

Kimberly upholds a busy lifestyle, pursuing a

passion in writing, dedicating hours to activities that intellectually engage her, such as reading and practicing the piano, remaining a devoted wife and mother all while caring for a son with Type I diabetes. She strays from the conventional familial feel and works to create an environment that is inviting and nurturing. Being able to observe a family dinner, I was able to sense the

Will diagnoses of Type 1 diabetes, an incurable immune

strong connection between the Chisolm family, and the

disorder, that changed Kimberly’s life forever. Will, a fresh-

prominent role Kimberly made in making the openness a

man at Menlo High School, was diagnosed with Type 1 dia-

possibility.

betes on November 30, 2009. “It’s interesting because most people that have a child diagnosed with Type I diabetes remember the exact date of the diagnosis. Suddenly your life changes in practically every single way possible”(Chisolm).

Type I diabetes, is a lifelong chronic disease in

which there are high levels of sugar in the blood due to the body’s inability to produce insulin. The body gets confused and attacks its own beta cells -- the cells that produce insulin-- located in the pancreas (Diego).

When asked about the difference between Type I

and Type II Diabetes, a relatively defensive front comes up as Kimberly dismisses the societal stereotypes that come along with Diabetes. “I think theres a sensitivity in the Type I Diabetes community about wanting to separate Type I from Type II because Type I is not a result of lifestyle choices. Type II diabetes is usually the result of someone being overweight and is directly related to diet and exercise. With Type II Diabetes the pancreas is producing insulin but its not enough insulin. With Type 1 Diabetes, it’s not because you ate too much candy. This is no ones fault, its not because you are overweight, which was comforting on some level as a

The news hit Kimberly of her son’s disease in November of

failures, comatosis, and other detrimental effects (Diabetes

2009. Upon a family stay at Half Moon Bay, Kimberley

Health Care Center).

began noticing Will’s incessant bathroom needs, “Will was up 6 times that night to use the bathroom so Monday I brought him to the pediatrician, we went in and they did a

“When you leave the hospital with a newborn baby tere are lot of questions in mind but you sort of

have this sense that you’ll be able to do most of it pretty

urine test.” After receiving the results Kimberly was in-

well. when you leave the hospital with a kid who has Type I

formed that her son’s urine contained sugar in it. Follow

Diabetes you’re essentially having to function as that kids

up blood tests later showed that Will’s case was severe and

pancreas. Before we set foot in the hospital that night I

in need of immediate attention.

had no idea where the pancreas was what is functions were,

“After a blood test the doctor

what it did, where it

called probably a half hour

was located”(Chisolm).

later and said I need you to

Following her son’s di-

go into a room where the kids

agnosis Kimberly took

aren’t around, which is where

it upon herself to

I knew things really weren’t

educate herself with a

good” Kimberlys eyes glaze

crash course in endo-

over and her mind races back

crinology. In the span

to that evening. Suddenly it

of three days in which

is apparent that Kimberly

Will was bedridden in

has put herself back to that

the hospital, Kimberly

night in 2009. “ I went upstairs and was trying to find a

thoroughly prepped herself on the new life she’d have to live

place of a room with a door that I could close. The doctor

as a mother caring for a son with a detrimental disease.

said you need to take him to the hospital right now.” Kim-

The immense information overload helped Kimberly deal

berly’s eyes flicker and her gaze meets mine, “I was really

with the brutal reality that her son was going to have to

pretty distraught and was shaking pretty hard and sort

inject himself with insulin 4 to 5 times a day.

of having a hard time functioning. I was standing there

talking on the telephone with Dr. Green and things got worse from there. Dr Green said we got a bed for you at the hospital, room 302 North which is a number I will never forget.” When Will checked into the hospital his blood sugar was at 906 which compared to the average blood sugar level of 100 shows how deep into the danger zone Will was.

Blood sugar levels above 400 can lead to seizures, kidney

Wills diagnoses came with a bit of a silver lining

Diabetes, Kimberly’s writing began to gain a new

for Kimberly. After her son’s diagnosis Kimberly was able

meaning. The motive shifted and her talent was able to

to combine her passion for writing and allocate her talent

emulate itself in an inspirational way. “I would publish

into a subject she felt closely connected to. That is when

these personal and heartfelt posts about something that

she got involved with JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research

would happen in our everyday lives and within a matter

Foundation, a national organization working to progress

of hours I would have several comments and responses and

the lifestyles of those dealing with a diabetes diagnosis

people giving pretty good evidence that the writing had

by conducting new cutting edge research and uniting the

resonated with them.… This was a really meaningful way

community of those with Type I diabetes (JDRF). She

to help people move through something that’s really dif-

became the Vice President of Research for the Bay Area

ficult especially through diagnosis”(Chisolm). Kimberly’s

Branch after immersing herself in the efforts of the orga-

work began reaching a multitude of families struggling

nization.

with the same issues she and her family had to brave

through during life after diagnosis.

Kimberly’s thirst for literary expression developed

in college and she constantly published samples of writing

Kimberly speaks of JDRF with the highest re-

in efforts to satisfy her need to somehow always remain in- gards, calling it a lifeline for families going through a tellectually engaged. When Will was diagnosed with Type

Type I Diabetes diagnoses.

“The moment that someone is diagnosed they be-

“It was really difficult but the silver lining of hav-

come a part of a community. We call it the best club you

ing the other shoe drop was that we survived. You sort of

never wanted to belong to. ”A hint of a smile engulfs her

realize that you can infact weather these storms. The other

face as she thinks about the communal feel JDRF brings

shoe can drop and you can have major medical conditions

forward. “We’re part of a community where the day to day

and still everybody’s going to survive and everyones going

issues are similar for everyone. Everyone has to inject insu- to be stronger for it.” Kimberlys determination and drive lin whether its with syringes or with a pump everyone has

shows no signs of slowing down as she continues her pro-

to count carbs everyone has to be concerned about exercise.

found writing for JDRF and raises three amazing chil-

and for the most part the repercussions are the same....

dren, Will, Aiden and Quinton.

people are dealing with the same sorts of issues... which does allow for a strong sense of community, everyone is in the same boat on some level”(Chisolm).

Kimberly’s passion is apparent as she explains

JDRF’s immense impact on her life. Her empathetic nature and nurturing qualities shine through as she speaks of her past. Kimberly’s impeccable ability to make you feel welcome within the first five minutes of meeting her makes the whole interview very comfortable and relaxed.

Her upbeat personality is infectious and her ability to commit immense amounts of time to developing research for JDRF, write for numerous local publications, run a household, mother three kids, all while running a carpool is inspiring.

Written By: Nikki Kashani Photos By: Nikki Kashani