Students at Chandlers School were able to meet Caitlynn Laster, who has authored and illustrated her own children’s book about Type I Diabetes.  She spent some time with third grade students in the classrooms of Ms. Laura Coleman, Mrs. Victoria Graves, and Mrs. Marty White. Students were able to have a question and answer session after Mrs. Laster read her book to students.

Mrs. Laster, the former Caitlyn Oberhausen, attended Auburn Elementary School and graduated from Logan County High School.  She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 18. Mrs. Laster mentioned to students, “This diagnosis inspired my passion to help others going through the same thing that I did.”

She graduated from WKU in December 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and Dietetics with a concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics and a minor in Nutritional and Food Chemistry.  She is currently going through the Dietetic Internship Program at WKU and will be completing it in May of 2016.

When students asked her what she wanted to do after she graduated, Mrs. Laster responded, “My ultimate goal is to become a Certified Diabetes Educator to fulfill my dream of helping others going through the struggles associated with diabetes.” 

When one student asked what inspired her to write her book, Mrs. Laster replied, “I know the adjustment period was hard enough for me as an adult and must be even harder for children. That's what inspired me to write the children's book.  I want the peers of children with Type 1 Diabetes to understand that their friends with Type 1 Diabetes are just like them. They can do all of the things that their friends can.”