Who We Are
Laura Plunkett, columnist for Diabetes Health Magazine & diabetesincontrol.com,
a web site for diabetes professionals, recently spoke at the Juvenile
Diabetes Symposium at the University of California, San Francisco. The Plunkett
family has been featured on a Parent-to-Parent segment on WHDH-TV and a
Hometown Hero profile on WBZ radio. Laura and her mother are co-authors
of the book, “The
Challenge of Childhood Diabetes: Family Strategies for Raising a Healthy
Child.” Laura has a BA in Psychology from Brown University and had
a thriving psychotherapy private practice for 14 years.
Linda Weltner wrote the weekly column, “Ever So Humble,” in
the At Home section of The Boston Globe for 19 years. Her column was carried
by newspapers around the country through the New York Times Wire Service.
She is the author of two novels for young adults and two collections of
her columns. She was awarded the Best Columnist Award by the New England
Women’s Press Association and given the Gold Award from National Mature
Media Awards 2000 for best feature in a magazine. She has addressed over
300 audiences.
Jessica Plunkett was 10 when her brother was diagnosed with diabetes. Now
a high school junior, she attended all hospital information sessions, spent
a week at a family diabetes camp, and is Danny’s chief babysitter.
Her writing has been published in Diabetes Health magazine. |
Our Talk
“Raising Wholesome Children In A Fast Food World”
Linda Weltner, Laura Plunkett, and 16-yearold Jessica Plunkett talk about
how 7-year old Danny Plunkett’s diagnosis of juvenile diabetes in
2002 prompted a complete overhaul of the family’s attitude toward
nutrition and exercise. Danny’s grandmother, mother, and sister describe
the family’s successful journey to a healthier lifestyle, discussing
the changes their extended family made in improving nutrition, increasing
exercise, building teamwork, and overcoming the emotional and psychological
stresses such a turnabout requires.
The speakers address such questions as: How can you approach change from
a family systems viewpoint? How do you promote enthusiastic co-operation
in making changes in diet and exercise? How can parents avoid burnout in
the face of resistance? How can you enlist friends and neighbors in supporting
your goals?
“Laura is a very important voice
in the childhood
diabetes community.”
Scott King, Editor in Chief
Diabetes Health Magazine
|
Speaking Recommendations
“One of the fabulous speakers [at the Pediatric Diabetes Symposium at UCal] was author Laura Plunkett, who wrote The Challenge of Childhood Diabetes, a must-read for parents in her situation. Very calming. Laura talks about the family dynamic because ‘focusing on insulin alone is not enough,’ she says.”
Amy Tenderich
Diabetesmine.com
“I highly recommend Laura Plunkett’s talk at the Newton Free Library. She brought her own perspective the audience could relate to, sharing how her family learned to cope and now thrives. The talk was funny and lively, the audience had many questions and Laura had great ideas.”
Beth Purcell, Program Director
Newton Free Library
“Not only does Laura look like her mom, [a former Boston Globe columnist], but she also inherited her writing and speaking genes.”
Barbara Meltz, The Boston Globe
“To know that you all are still whole as a family & are still able to smile—that is so heartening. I
especially appreciated how you and your husband worked together to support your children.”
Tina Blythe Lecturer, Harvard
|
