Each summer in Des Plaines, the American Diabetes Association sponsors a day camp for children called Camp Confidence. It’s designed to help children with diabetes “develop independence and confidence” in negotiating their disease, according to the camp website.
Glenbrook South senior Callie Pekosh is a regular at the camp, helping the children in her role as a camp counselor.
“I was 6 when I found out I had diabetes,” Pekosh said. “There was a year or so when I hid it, and didn’t want people to know I was diabetic. Now I’ll tell anyone. But when you’re growing up, it can be hard. Young kids need to know that people don’t think differently of you.”
As a three-sport athlete playing field hockey, basketball and soccer for the Titans, Pekosh provides proof to the young children at Camp Confidence that diabetes need not hold them back.
“She encourages them to be the dynamic person that she is,” Titans girls basketball coach Steve Weissenstein said. “And she is the poster girl for selflessness. She genuinely cares about each person she encounters.”
Pekosh has type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, which means her body does not create insulin. According to the American Diabetes Association website, “The body breaks down the sugars and starches you eat into a simple sugar called glucose, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body.”
Prior to Glenbrook South’s 52-46 nonconference win at Prospect on Feb. 1, Pekosh had to give herself a shot of insulin in the locker room.
“I just have to check it a lot,” Pekosh said of her blood sugar level. “When it’s a little higher, I’m just a little off in the way I see the game. My whole perspective is off.”
Diabetes hasn’t slowed Pekosh down a bit. She only plays three sports because there are only three high school sports seasons.
“I had to quit a lot of sports just to get down to three. I used to play a lot more,” said Pekosh, a Glenview resident.
Pekosh has never stood out statistically in the sports she plays, although she did hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points in a 49-40 win over Maine South on Jan. 27.
“I’m not the big scorer or anything. I’m more like the assister,” Pekosh said. “My strongest point is helping other people. I’d rather have other people score than me.”
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Weissenstein called Pekosh “a terrific defender.”
The Titans (20-4 after the Prospect win) charged Pekosh with guarding Prospect junior Emily Frasco in their win over the Knights. Pekosh held the 6-foot Frasco to 12 points, despite giving up five inches in height.
“Sometimes it’s hard just because I’m not that tall and I have to go against taller players like (Frasco),” Pekosh said. “But I love defense. I get pleasure from helping other people, and I like stopping other players. It feels to me like a bigger accomplishment than scoring.”
Glenbrook South plays Friday at Evanston in the final Central Suburban South game of the season. The Wildkits have a one-game lead in the standings. The Titans will earn a share of the conference title with a win.
“Callie does so many things that go unnoticed,” Weissenstein said. “In each of the sports she plays, she’s the glue that keeps the team together. She is one of the most polite, respectful, thoughtful individuals with whom I’ve ever worked.”
Not surprisingly, Pekosh intends to become a teacher someday.
“That’s how I feel like I can most influence kids,” she said.
Gary Larsen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press