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Finding Hope,

Conquering Fear

by Karen Coney Coplin

hen Joe and Tami Balavage few hundred dollars at a time. These humble beginnings
founded Help A Diabetic Child expanded into a lifeline, even reaching across the state of Florida
W (HADC), it wasn't because in some cases.
they planned to start a non-profit. It was a In its first year, HADC helped eight children in Collier County When Our Clients Want
spontaneous and caring action because their and Lee County. Through continued growth, community education
16 year old son Michael received a Type 1 and various activities, HADC has assisted over 10,000 families in
Diabetes diagnosis (T1D), and their family's Southwest Florida during the past 15 years. Advice On Planning For
life changed overnight. That's an amazing and ongoing impact. Tami can recount
Michael's family quickly learned a reality that most never numerous instances where parents have shared their utter relief in
have to consider: a person living with T1D cannot survive receiving life-saving medication to care for their child. Typically, the the Future, the First
without insulin. Without insulin, a life-threatening condition assistance provided by HADC lasts up to 3 months, giving families
called Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) will develop. With DKA, time to secure insurance, make applications to patient assistance Thing I Do Is Listen.
severe symptoms may begin within a day of a missed dose. programs, or stabilize employment.
Insulin is not optional. It's a life-saving and life sustaining T1D requires relentless management and alters typical family
medication. schedules. Students will miss classes for appointments and parents
Tami shared that her son's diagnosis meant constant sometimes lose work time for the same reason.
monitoring injections and vigilance, all while he was navigating Also, there are long-term complications which potentially
typical teen life like school, friendships and sports. can develop into cardiovascular or kidney disease, among other
She and her husband felt both responsibility and fear, but also outcomes. Occurrences such as this can further increase both What drives Anthony as a wills, trusts and estates attorney is that Anthony J.
the weight of a staggering financial reality. medical and financial burdens. no two cases, or clients, are ever alike. Whether it’s a successful Cetrangelo Jr.
Even with insurance, the out-of-pocket cost of his initial Each November, in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, business person wanting to leave their life’s work to his or her Co-chair,
supplies was overwhelming. Before leaving the hospital, the HADC hosts a dinner for families, medical professionals, Wills, Trusts and
family needed long-acting and short acting insulin, along with and community supporters. It's an evening of connection and children, a grandparent wanting to fund a grandchild’s college Estate Planning
glucose test strips, a meter, lancets, glucose tablets, ketone strips, fundraising. Please mark your calendars as HADC welcomes help tuition, or a surviving spouse just trying to get through the grieving Department
and emergency glucagon. in securing sponsors, selling tickets and assembling silent auction process, Anthony is a person who listens first and helps ease any
This latter medication is so essential that a child cannot gift baskets. anxieties – just the way we’ve done for our clients since 1924.
attend school without it kept safely with a school nurse. Naples has long been a community known for generosity.
Additionally, this is one of the most expensive diabetic There are many ways to make a difference. This could be through
prescriptions. volunteering, sharing the mission or social media posts, and of
As with the experiences shared with others going through the course financial support is always appreciated.
same diagnosis, Michael's family discovered that this was not a Please visit HelpADiabeticChild.org
unique outcome. Families in Naples were rationing insulin and for additional information.
delaying doctor visits in some cases. Others felt compelled to No child should ever go without insulin. HADC is committed
choose between basic needs and life-saving supplies. to helping families facing a T1D diagnosis find stability and hope. Where Tradition Meets the Future. ®
All of this coupled with high deductibles and expensive co- Please contact Karen at NaplesKCC@gmail.com with suggestions
pays as well as gaps in coverage frequently left families paying for future article coverage, which is often centered on charitable henlaw.com • 239.344.1100
thousands of dollars annually before insurance stepped in. organizations in Naples and the programs/services these groups offer. Fort Myers • Bonita Springs • Naple
This awareness sparked action by the Balavage family. Additionally, for more vignettes about life in Naples, give her a follow Recognized in 2026 by Best Law Firms ©
Initially, their community outreach began with car washes on Instagram @Naplesbythenumbers
and local business donations which were successful in raising a
BUSINESS & TA X • BUSINESS LITIGATION • CONSTRUC TION • DIVORCE, MAR ITAL & FAMILY
EMPLOYMENT • HEALTH CARE • LAND USE, ZONING & ENVIRONMENTAL • MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
REAL ESTATE • TORT & INSURANCE • WILLS, TRUST & ESTATE PLANNING • WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
I'm abundantly thankful to call Naples my home and to connect with you here.
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