Young diabetic has a fighting spirit

Coral Bouchard is a fighter.

When her blood sugar soars and her stomach aches, Coral does what she can to stay in school. Her struggle with diabetes has led to an interest in nutrition, which is leading to a campaign for healthier school lunches.

Even her favorite class is telling; she says she likes history “because I get to give out my opinion and argue with the teacher.”

Despite her fighting spirit, Coral isn’t argumentative. The seventh-grader at Evergreen Junior High is a caring and conscientious teen who cares about her schoolwork, her friends and other people.

That’s why, when Pam Ridenour had to nominate one student as Glacier Country Boys and Girls Club’s Youth of the Year, she knew immediately who should win.

“Coral’s just a great girl,” Ridenour said. “She’s been coming to the club since second grade. We watched her grow up. ... It was an easy choice.”

Youth of the Year is Boys and Girls Clubs of America’s top honor. In Montana, local clubs nominate winners, who then compete in regional and state competitions before going on to the National Youth of the Year competition.

At 13, Coral technically is too young to be eligible for the award, which has a minimum age of 14, Ridenour said. But the local club still thought Coral was their best representative and took her last week to the regional Youth of the Year competition in Helena.

“She wasn’t old enough to be in the competition, but we wanted to make our presence down there,” Ridenour said.

Coral toured the Capitol and, despite not being an official competitor, was allowed to deliver a speech with the other regional Youths of the Year.

“She did awesome,” Ridenour said. “I was just amazed. I was so proud of her.”

Coral said she suspects she was chosen for the award because she often assists younger children at the Evergreen club. She helps them with homework, spends time with some who might otherwise get into trouble and is conscious of the fact that she is a role model.

She remembers how when she started going to the club, older students took her under their wing.

“I saw some of them having difficulties. When I was having difficulties, some older people, they would help me. I wanted to do the same,” Coral said.

Working with the younger children helps her learn more about how to communicate and help them, which Coral said is helping her learn how to better “deal with” her 5-year-old brother, Adam.

Ridenour and Coral’s principal, Kim Anderson, noted that Coral is a leader even when she doesn’t feel well. She struggles to keep her blood glucose levels under control; when the numbers soar, she is sidelined by a painful stomachache.

Sometimes she has to miss school because of the diabetes, but that hasn’t stopped Coral from being a good student, Anderson said.

“She’s on the honor roll,” Anderson said. “She’s one of our top academic students. And she always has a great attitude, even when she doesn’t feel great.

“She never wants to go home. She loves school.”

Anderson said she has been particularly impressed with Coral’s science fair project, which examined Evergreen’s school lunches.

The meals, while relatively healthy, are “sometimes not always the best for my blood sugars,” Coral said. Most lunches have more carbohydrates than a teenage girl needs.

Her attitude has been, “if you’re going to provide them, make sure they’re healthy,” Anderson said.

While her science project may benefit her peers and future diabetic students, Coral also is helping people she’s never met.

An 11-year-old friend of a cousin who lives in California recently learned she was diabetic. When Coral’s aunt asked her niece to write to the girl and offer advice and encouragement, Coral didn’t hesitate.

“She’s not alone” was the message Coral said she wanted to convey. “I’m giving her tips about how to keep [her blood sugar] leveled and how to help when it’s high or low.”

She said her own battles have made her want to help others. Ridenour said she has seen Coral’s helpful attitude at the club.

“No matter what we ask her to do, she is always more than willing to help out,” Ridenour said. “She’s just a lot of fun. We enjoy having her there.

“We enjoy all the kids, but Coral’s kind of special.”

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.