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Kristen's Story

Today, Kristen O'Hara is a senior in college from Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania. However, when Kristen was just 14, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. When she was diagnosed, she learned that she would have to wear a medical emergency bracelet for the rest of her life. This was a tough idea to swallow because, let's face it, it's hard being a teenager, especially when confronted with something that might make you stand out or be considered "different."

Kristen felt the typical medical emergency bracelets screamed "I HAVE DIABETES!" and "please ask me about it." So, like many other teenagers facing this same dilemma, she chose not to wear one. Although Kristen's mother, Kathy, understood her daughter's concern, she desperately wanted her daughter to wear her medical emergency bracelet in the event of an emergency. This was even more of an issue when Kristen became eligible for her driver's permit and her mother would not allow her to drive without a medical emergency bracelet. Kathy decided to spearhead a search to help Kristen locate a solution that would appease them both.

Initially, Kristen, along with her mom, did find different kinds of medical emergency bracelets, but she felt they were not stylish or were too "babyish." Then, through her involvement with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Kathy met Shelly Fisher of Hope Paige Designs, which, at the time, offered chic awareness jewelry, and explained her daughter's anxiety about wearing her medical emergency bracelet. Shelly and her partner, Lisa Hobyak, offered Kristen and her mother the solution they had been looking for – Kristen could design her very own stylish medical emergency bracelet. Kristen's situation inspired Hope Paige Designs to develop an entire line of fashionable medical emergency bracelets to appeal to men, women, boys and girls.

Kristen's bracelet has changed her life since she wears it all the time and can now get her much-anticipated driver's license. She even has several Hope Paige Designs medical emergency bracelets, which resemble normal, everyday bracelets to the untrained eye, that she can mix and match to her wardrobe. To Kristen's delight, many of her friends even compliment her on her medical emergency bracelets and ask where they can get one, not knowing their purpose. Although Kristen has to live with Juvenile Diabetes every day of her life, she no longer has to wear it.