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©2009
Lisa Yourman - Used with permission
THIS I BELIEVE
The highlight
of all my achievements was the honor of being presented with the Michael
Brennan Courage Award
by the Boomer Esiason Foundation in March. It was an incredible
experience!!
Many thanks to the Boomer Esiason
Foundation for all they do for patients living with cystic fibrosis.
To
view my acceptance speech, Click here
College!!!!
Wow! I finished Kean University! I was honored to be inducted
into the Lambda Sigma Alpha Honor Society for my excellence in Academics! I
finished my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (Cum Laude) in 4 years – I have
lived out my dream! I made the adjustment to college and being away from home
for four years very easily. I was able to manage my classes and my medical
treatments with only a few bumps along the road. I have decided to go back to
school for a second bachelor’s to better suit how I can help contribute back
to the community that has helped me by focusing on nutrition and a career
that helps others.
My goal is to concentrate on living life
to its fullest while maintaining my health with good medical compliance!
JDAC
Thanks
to my friends and the nurses, I initiated a club called the Juvenile Diabetes
Awareness Club (JDAC) my freshman year in high school. Together with members
of the community, and the Diabetes
Foundation, Inc. our club has already raised over $51,000 in 4 years. My
goal is raise awareness of the growing epidemic of diabetes in the United States
and to continue to send children to camp in the summer to learn what is
necessary to live with diabetes!
I decided since I am moving to a higher level that I
have changed the name of my organization to the
Juvenile Diabetes Awareness Coalition
(JDAC). The future goals of the organization will change a little and
broaden to service more people affected
by diabetes. There will be more to come on www.jdac.info.
Here is the
new logo!
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I had the greatest
opportunity to launch the New Jersey chapter of the Partnership to Fight Chronic
Disease in April 2008. To read more about it link to: NJ League of
Municipalities. It was an honor to have worked with Rep. Bob
Franks to spread awareness about chronic disease, awareness of access to
medications and most importantly, was a friend who helped guide me in my
own life's journey. I will miss him.
©2008 Lisa Yourman - Used with permission
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On April 16th,
2008, I was invited to be in the audience for the Obama/Clinton Debate in
Historic Philadelphia. What an amazing experience! I got to see up close
and personal the candidates for the Democratic Party, but was very
disappointed that there were no questions about healthcare reform.
The 2008 Presidential Election was my first time voting and wow the most
important presidential election of my time. I hope my vote can make a
difference!
See my interview on
the Doctor's Channel by clicking here
and an article in the Toronto Star by clicking here
Healthcare
Reform plays an important role in the management of cystic fibrosis &
diabetes.
It is important to know how any changes will affect
you or a family member!
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 The Diabetes
Foundation has subsidized the cost of sending children to Camp Nejeda
since the early 1990s. They have teamed up with JDAC for the last two years
by matching funds up to $5,000 each year to raise additional money for
camperships. Thank you for taking on the CHALLENGE and sharing the same
mission as JDAC!
 As part of
my mission to help other diabetics, I applied for a "Keep the
Drive" grant with the goal of starting a program called "Smart
Driving for the Diabetic Teenager." The first presentation will be
during staff week at Camp Nejeda this summer and I have already been asked to
do others, which is so great. Thanks to my fellow classmate, Vinny, who
designed the t-shirt for the first event. I will post it once it is
finalized. The shirt is soooo cool, take my word for it!
LillyforLife
Achievement Award
 
On
October 26, 2004, I was presented with the LillyforLife Achievement Award:
Presented in the "Young Champions" (patients 17 and under) category
in recognition of outstanding contribution to the diabetes community. This
prestigious honor came with a $1,000 award to be given to my favorite
charity. I chose Camp Nejeda, a summer camp for diabetics.
I was highlighted in a press release and story featured on the website, www.lillydiabetes.com
In April 2004, I was recognized as being one of the
Top 100 Volvo for Life Award winners
My picture was up in
Times Square, NYC!
How cool is that!
This award recognizes those who have done extraordinary
things
in their lives to help others and I am proud to be part
of the
Volvo for Life 2 Featured Heroes for 2004!
©2004 Lisa Yourman - Used with permission
Recent Honors
 I was
selected as one of 300 state winners of a 2007 Discover® Card Tribute Award® Scholarship!
State winners are selected from all applicants (25,400 high school juniors
around the country) based on overall excellence in the areas of leadership
and community service while successfully overcoming a hardship or challenge
and have maintained a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average to qualify. It comes with a $2,500 scholarship too!
 I was recognized as an Energizer® Keep
Going® Hall of Fame semifinalist! I was one of 100 amazing people that has
the spirit of the Energizer Bunny®. They felt that I have embraced life with
a never-quit attitude.
I keep on going and going and ...
 I was
nominated to represent my high school for the Prudential Spirit of Community
Awards which honors outstanding community service by young Americans for the
last three years. I look forward to being a role model
for my school as well as the communities I serve. As of yet, I have not been
picked in NJ, but I have not given up yet!
Although I have not been picked as a State representative, based
on the number of volunteer hours, the judges have nominated me for The
President's Volunteer Service Award from the President's Council on Service
and Civic Participation! I received the Gold Award for committing over 100
hours in a 12 month period as a 14 and 16 year old. I urge all Americans to
dedicate their time to the community.
In 2005, I was named as an
International Diabetes Youth Ambassador (IDYA). Read my story at the following
link: Sarah
Yourman
 
My mom and I were named to the PhRMA Speakers Bureau. I have
done a couple of speaking engagements and appeared in a couple of magazines and newspapers on Capitol Hill in April. Link I also had a chance to speak at the re-launch of the
"Partnership for Prescription Assistance"...first one hundred days.
 
It has been my pleasure to help launch the RX4NJ program. Rx4NJ.org is a program that connects qualified, low-income
people with prescription drug assistance programs, direct from the
pharmaceutical manufacturer. They offer a single point of access to public
and private patient assistance programs, including more than 150 programs
offered by pharmaceutical companies.
I introduced a new program to recognize and profile exceptional
people living with cystic fibrosis called the Genentech Heroes
of Hope program. Please visit and nominate your Hero of Hope!
 Check my brother
Jeffrey and I hanging on the side of a building on Genentech's campus in
California ! We both take Pulmozyme and took Nutropin AQ and have the honor
of telling the story about our success with Nutropin Growth Hormone. In
addition, Pulmozyme has allowed us to lead a normal life since it was
approved 15 years ago for cystic fibrosis patients. Thanks Genentech for
everything that you have done for all the CF patients. My goal is to tell
people about our story and to show the world that CF patients can do anything
they want to do!
 In
2004, I was named an "Everyday Hero Living with Cystic Fibrosis" on
the TOBI website.
Inhaling TOBI has made a big difference in my life! (It is not recommended
for everyone). I am also in great company with the other heroes in the
calendar and on the website!
 I am always in touch with
all the congressional representatives and the Governor at the state level to
pursued each one of them to implement Disease Management programs for
diabetes, cystic fibrosis, asthma and heart disease under the Medicaid
Program. These management programs empower patients to follow their
healthcare plan and provides for cost savings to the State of New Jersey. I
try to stay involved with activities to advocate for all patients with cystic
fibrosis and diabetes. In June 2003, I went to Trenton NJ and spoke out about
preferred drug lists: check out the article: McGreevy Rethinks
Preferred Drug List (after Sarah Yourman speaks ;-) . . . just kidding.)
If you would like to help, contact the representatives in your area!
 My "advocacy" career
started when I was six. As you can see from the picture on the left, I was
always by my Mom's side when it came to helping her discuss what it is like
living with a chronic illness. During this time period the main focus was
healthcare reform both in the State of New Jersey and at the Federal level. I
later helped with HIPPA, newborn screening in NJ which was one of the initial
States in 1999 (CO and WI were the first) to test newborns for cystic
fibrosis. I spoke at the launch of RX4NJ that helps NJ residents with
prescription assistance programs. But most the exciting experience was to be
part of healthcare discussions as part of the Obama-Biden
Transition Team Community Discussion of Healthcare in December 2008.
My main focus now is "kids helping kids"
especially to help empower other kids dealing with a chronic illness to have
the knowledge to advocate for themselves. Now more than ever patients with
chronic illness need to be advocates for themselves and others. It's time for
change!
Sarah is an amazing athlete and
incredible role model. She is fourteen years old and is actively involved in
freestyle skiing as well as competitive downhill skiing. What is so
incredible about her story is that Sarah suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, a life
shortening progressive lung disorder, Diabetes, and Asthma. She is making the
most out of her life and has a smile on her face every day no matter what!!
Hannah Hardaway (2002 Olympic Mogul Skier)
said it best
"Sarah is one of those people everyone wants to be around.
She radiates happiness and energy,
reminding us all that there are no boundaries
to what we can accomplish if we put our heart and soul in
it!"
Sarah Yourman is truly an inspiration to us all!
Once you have read my site
Please sign my
guestbook
Click here
to enter
SKIING
Have
never seen me ski and want to watch a short slide show
Well, here it is thanks to Imagine
Studios
and my mom and dad
(they took the videos and pictures)!
Click
here
to view
the show
Not bad
for a girl from New Jersey, very far from the ski capitol of the world and of
course living with cystic fibrosis and diabetes.
 
©2005
Lisa Yourman - Used with permission
Super Size Me -
Morgan Spurlock
Catch a glimpse of me and my artwork in the
now famous "Super Size Me" documentary. I have a small cameo role
at the end of the movie and the wonderful belly art!. Thanks Morgan for all
you have done for me and my family and your support for JDAC. I still
remember you from the volleyball event, many years ago, spiking the ball over
the net so that I could win a t-shirt. You and Alex are the greatest! Hugs and kisses to
Laken, he is so adorable!
  
Morgan and I skiing together before
fame, his belly at the "Super Size Me" 30 day party and my cameo
appearance!!!
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