James + Melissa Shade, RN
Melissa started off her health care career in high school working as a CNA at a Children’s Rehab Hospital. She has worked at Children’s Hospital since 1998. She started as a CNA in the specialty clinics then moved to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as an RN, in 2001. In 2017 she moved to the Endocrine Clinic so she could help other families affected by Type 1 Diabetes.
James worked at Methodist as a Security Officer before becoming a Police Officer in 2009. He has worked in numerous units including Public Information Officer and Homicide and is currently a Sargent Detective in the Felony Assault Unit.
Melissa and James have 5 children Halley, James, Ella, Jack and Alaina. Ella was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2012 at 6 years old. James was diagnosed in 2017 at the age of 14. Alaina was diagnosed in 2019 at 8 years old.
From James and Melissa:
We have been involved with Camp Hot Shots since 2013. We heard about the camp and knew we needed to sign Ella up. When Melissa found out she was able to be a part of the Medstaff, we were hooked. Ella was nervous about attending at first. However, we saw her light up when she saw all the kids checking blood sugars, counting carbs and taking insulin. No one else in her school had T1D and at camp, she finally realized she was not alone. We knew taking her to camp was the most important thing we could do to help her not only survive T1D, but to thrive. We have attended/volunteered every year since, as a family. Melissa enjoys teaching the kids how to manage their diabetes so they can grow up and be successful and watching the friendships blossom between the campers. James enjoys making sure camp is safe and helping with food delivery and clean up. Halley loves art and helping with crafts or wherever she is needed. Ella is now too old to be a camper, but still enjoys helping with camp as a med ed assistant. James enjoys helping with med ed and being a counselor (the kids love him), Jack helps wherever he is needed and Alaina is a camper. We look forward to attending and volunteering for camp every year and enjoy helping support other families.