Tauranga 11-year-old Harry Oxenham refuses to let Type 1 diabetes and cystic fibrosis stop him from eating nine Weet-Bix for breakfast, striving to meet an All Black one day, or giving the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon his all.
This will be the Tauriko boy’s third time competing in the TRYathlon. He started at the age of 6 and raced last year too.
This year he’s looking forward to the biking leg of the Mount Maunganui Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon this Sunday, November 30, at Arataki Park. He also intends to beat some of his friends who are competing.
Mother Aly Oxenham said Harry has plenty of energy, a strong spirit, and a sense of humour despite the challenges he faces.
Cystic fibrosis is a condition that causes mucus to build up in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties. Harry was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 10 months old. Aly said her son receives chest physio morning and night to relieve this symptoms.
At age 9 he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes – an auto-immune condition where the body sets up an attack against the cells within it that make insulin.
Staying active also helps because running around gets his lungs working, said Aly.
Although Harry wants to meet an All Black one day – Ardie Savea, Beauden Barrett or Damian McKenzie (or all three will do) – mud causes issues for his cystic fibrosis, so he prefers the hockey turf. He also plays basketball and cricket.
11-year-old Harry Oxenham has type 1 diabetes and cystic fibrosis. Photo / David Hall
Aly said her son’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis also interfered with his daily life. He requires 24/7 monitoring of his blood glucose level, his insulin pump needs to be changed every 72 hours, and his Dexcom sensor needs to be changed every 10 days.
Harry will have to remove the pump for the swim leg of the TRYathlon, but will keep his arm monitor on. “Even Harry says he’d rather have Cystic Fibrosis any day over diabetes,” said Aly.
Her and husband Dan have to monitor everything Harry eats, but the modern technology present in his pump and Dexcom sensor helps.
In January Harry’s off to diabetes camp for a week of learning how to self-manage diabetes from health professionals. “So you guys won’t have to deal with me,” Harry joked to his parents.
Aly said she and Dan are proud of Harry’s zest for life. “Every day he wakes up and puts his feet on the floor. He just gets on with it.”
Harry said he learned that from his dad, Dan. “I suck it up and get on with it,” Harry said.
Mount Maunganui’s Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is at Arataki Park on Sunday, November 30, starting 9am. Registrations are open fro kids aged six-15 at: https://tryathlon.co.nz/
Bijou Johnson is a multimedia journalist based in the Bay of Plenty. A passionate writer and reader, she grew up in Tauranga and developed a love for journalism while exploring various disciplines at university. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies from Massey University.