THE MOTHER NATURE
THE FAMILY GROOVE’S PROFILE OF A MOM WHO’S MAKING IT HAPPEN
Gone are the days of the traditional coffee clutch, because at THE FAMILY GROOVE, we’re doing it new
school,
bringing people together to laugh, learn, share and commiserate in the global village called the
Internet.
This month, we want you to meet KK Patton, a woman who took the maintenance of her type 1
diabetes from struggle to solution—an FDA-approved solution, no less. KK’s lemonade-out-of-lemons
take on life is now sparing millions of people the discomfort that comes with multiple daily injections
and the dire health risks that come with skipping those injections because they hurt so much.
Here, she talks about commitment to her health, her family, the diabetes community at large and her product that took six years from patent to shelves. Her calm and steady outlook and dedication to her goals, both personal and professional, make for quite a dolce vita.
1. Who are you?
Catherine (KK) Patton
2. How old are you?
34
3. Where do you live?
Austin, Texas
4. How many children do you have? How old?
I have a 7-year-old boy named Will.
5. What time do you get up?
Between 6:30 and 7
6. What daily rituals must you do to feel normal?
I drink coffee, exercise, and spend time with family and friends.
7. What do you wish you’d do every day, but haven’t been able to incorporate into your routine?
I wish I could ride horses every day.
8. Do you work?
Yes.
9. What do you do?
I am the founder of Patton Medical Devices.
10. Tell us about it.
I have type 1 diabetes and became frustrated with the options that I was given to manage my disease, so I invented a product called the i-port, which is an injection port for people who take multiple daily injections. I wanted a product that would reduce the needle punctures I had to endure every day from giving my injections, so I came up with the idea for an injection port that would limit the number of needle sticks from an average of four daily to one every three days. I filed for a patent in July 2002 and founded Patton Medical Devices to bring the product to market in February 2004. It has been a long but exciting road, and we now have an FDA-cleared product on the market. Presently, I am working to promote awareness of the product.
11. What’s the best thing your mother ever told you?
The best thing my mother ever told me was to see the positive in every situation. It is important to always see the glass half full.
12. What does being a good mother mean?
Always putting family first.
13. What’s your mantra/personal philosophy?
Live each day to its fullest.
14. What do you tell other mothers?
I tell them to have fun with life and don’t take things too seriously.
15. Finish this sentence: I want my child to know…
…how much I love him and that I will always be proud of him.
16. Who inspires you?
My son, my mom and my husband.
17. What are you passionate about?
My family!
18. How do you balance your life as a woman, a mother, a friend?
I stay true to myself and remain the same person in all three roles.
19. What do you wish you knew then that you know now?
I wish I knew how important my health is and not to take it for granted.
20. How do you get into your groove?
I go to my favorite Mexican restaurant with family and friends and have a margarita!
For more from KK, go to
www.pattonmd.com.
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