SE: Devan Fairfield an Example for Young Athletes with Diabetes, K-State Volleyball Freshmen
Oct 17, 2018 | Volleyball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
The first words to leave Devan Fairfield's mouth as a sixth grader in shock by what she was just told were, "Can I still play sports?"
The short answer: Yes. The longer one: It wouldn't be as easy as before. Not with Type 1 diabetes, a disease Fairfield, now a fifth-year senior for K-State's volleyball team, was diagnosed with before she hit her teenage years.
"That was the first question I had. I think I just didn't understand what it was or how I go about it," she said. "I figured out it's manageable. You just have to take care of yourself and you can play sports. Anyone can play sports, even if they have it."
After the initial shock wore off, Fairfield said she did not view the diagnosis as a roadblock to becoming a college athlete. A soccer and volleyball player growing up, K-State's defensive specialist/libero said she approached her situation like it was another defender she needed to get by or another attack she needed to dig in the back row.
"I think it was kind of a challenge to me that I'm going to make sure that I'm not going to let it stop me from playing college sports," said Fairfield, who leads K-State in digs (229) and digs per set (3.75) this season, the latter of which ranks fifth in the Big 12.
Fairfield's blood sugar level, a constant rollercoaster she has to monitor before and after each meal, practice and match, swings in physically-affecting ways. If it's low, she said she'll become "really shaky" and need some sugar — usually in the form of energy chews — to return to equilibrium. If it's too high, Fairfield said she feels nauseously sick. This is when she injects some insulin into her body so it can process glucose properly.
"It was definitely a learning process," she said. "I think it definitely helped that I was diagnosed earlier on because I think I gained responsibility. I had to take care of myself at an early age, and I think as I got older and came to college I was able to take care of myself and make it as good as I could to play at this level."
While Fairfield said she's at a good place now in terms of managing her blood sugar levels, it took time and help from others, especially from K-State volleyball athletic trainer Emily Trausch, to get there.
"One time my blood sugar was really, really high and I had to call Emily because I was really sick, and she had to take me to the hospital. She's been my person here. My mom's so thankful that Emily is here to help me out whenever I need," Fairfield said "She's been such a great help. Again, anytime my blood's low or high, I look at Emily and say, 'It's low,' or, 'It's high,' and she's, like, 'Here's some sugar,' or, 'Here's your pump.' She's so helpful."
A more reserved person and leader, Fairfield said she has grown immensely in her desire to help others at K-State. She doesn't want to be labeled as any sort of inspiration for becoming a Division I student-athlete despite diabetes; there are a number of athletes who have done it. But she does want to remind any young athletes out there diagnosed with it, possibly doubting themselves because of it, that it can be done.
"I want to be an example for kids who do have diabetes, that they can play at this level," she said, "and not to let something like this stop you from getting to where you want to be."
In a different way, Fairfield's also made it a point in her last season to help some of K-State's younger players. Specifically, she's been a resource for K-State's trio of freshmen redshirting this season in Kayley Hollywood, Abigail Archibong and Holly Blonde. Fairfield went through the process of all practice, no play, during her first season at K-State.
"You don't travel when you redshirt, so I think it's hard because you want to be there with the team and you want to be there for all the moments," she said, as K-State hosts Kansas on Wednesday at 8 p.m., on ESPNU. "It's not an easy year but I think it makes it easier when you have people who are supporting you and are there to talk you through those situations and get through those hard times."
Fairfield has tried to be one of those people. She said she's also attempted to lead in ways she used to follow, ways she learned from the likes of former Wildcats like Kersten Kober and Katie Brand.
"(Kober) was always super supportive and pushed me, and I think I wanted to work as hard as her. Now, I want to be the person that people are, like, 'Wow, I want to work as hard as Devan.' Katie Brand was awesome. I got along with her really well and she also led by example. I think that was something I took with me," Fairfield said, before reflecting on her time at K-State. "I feel like I've become more selfless as a person. When I first came in here, I was, like, 'I want to do this and this. I want to set a record.' Now that I'm older, I realize the things that matter more are the relationships with my teammates and the people who have been around me at K-State have made me a better person. I'm extremely thankful for everything K-State's done for me."
The first words to leave Devan Fairfield's mouth as a sixth grader in shock by what she was just told were, "Can I still play sports?"
The short answer: Yes. The longer one: It wouldn't be as easy as before. Not with Type 1 diabetes, a disease Fairfield, now a fifth-year senior for K-State's volleyball team, was diagnosed with before she hit her teenage years.
"That was the first question I had. I think I just didn't understand what it was or how I go about it," she said. "I figured out it's manageable. You just have to take care of yourself and you can play sports. Anyone can play sports, even if they have it."
After the initial shock wore off, Fairfield said she did not view the diagnosis as a roadblock to becoming a college athlete. A soccer and volleyball player growing up, K-State's defensive specialist/libero said she approached her situation like it was another defender she needed to get by or another attack she needed to dig in the back row.
"I think it was kind of a challenge to me that I'm going to make sure that I'm not going to let it stop me from playing college sports," said Fairfield, who leads K-State in digs (229) and digs per set (3.75) this season, the latter of which ranks fifth in the Big 12.
Fairfield's blood sugar level, a constant rollercoaster she has to monitor before and after each meal, practice and match, swings in physically-affecting ways. If it's low, she said she'll become "really shaky" and need some sugar — usually in the form of energy chews — to return to equilibrium. If it's too high, Fairfield said she feels nauseously sick. This is when she injects some insulin into her body so it can process glucose properly.
"It was definitely a learning process," she said. "I think it definitely helped that I was diagnosed earlier on because I think I gained responsibility. I had to take care of myself at an early age, and I think as I got older and came to college I was able to take care of myself and make it as good as I could to play at this level."
While Fairfield said she's at a good place now in terms of managing her blood sugar levels, it took time and help from others, especially from K-State volleyball athletic trainer Emily Trausch, to get there.
"One time my blood sugar was really, really high and I had to call Emily because I was really sick, and she had to take me to the hospital. She's been my person here. My mom's so thankful that Emily is here to help me out whenever I need," Fairfield said "She's been such a great help. Again, anytime my blood's low or high, I look at Emily and say, 'It's low,' or, 'It's high,' and she's, like, 'Here's some sugar,' or, 'Here's your pump.' She's so helpful."
A more reserved person and leader, Fairfield said she has grown immensely in her desire to help others at K-State. She doesn't want to be labeled as any sort of inspiration for becoming a Division I student-athlete despite diabetes; there are a number of athletes who have done it. But she does want to remind any young athletes out there diagnosed with it, possibly doubting themselves because of it, that it can be done.
"I want to be an example for kids who do have diabetes, that they can play at this level," she said, "and not to let something like this stop you from getting to where you want to be."
In a different way, Fairfield's also made it a point in her last season to help some of K-State's younger players. Specifically, she's been a resource for K-State's trio of freshmen redshirting this season in Kayley Hollywood, Abigail Archibong and Holly Blonde. Fairfield went through the process of all practice, no play, during her first season at K-State.
"You don't travel when you redshirt, so I think it's hard because you want to be there with the team and you want to be there for all the moments," she said, as K-State hosts Kansas on Wednesday at 8 p.m., on ESPNU. "It's not an easy year but I think it makes it easier when you have people who are supporting you and are there to talk you through those situations and get through those hard times."
Fairfield has tried to be one of those people. She said she's also attempted to lead in ways she used to follow, ways she learned from the likes of former Wildcats like Kersten Kober and Katie Brand.
"(Kober) was always super supportive and pushed me, and I think I wanted to work as hard as her. Now, I want to be the person that people are, like, 'Wow, I want to work as hard as Devan.' Katie Brand was awesome. I got along with her really well and she also led by example. I think that was something I took with me," Fairfield said, before reflecting on her time at K-State. "I feel like I've become more selfless as a person. When I first came in here, I was, like, 'I want to do this and this. I want to set a record.' Now that I'm older, I realize the things that matter more are the relationships with my teammates and the people who have been around me at K-State have made me a better person. I'm extremely thankful for everything K-State's done for me."
Players Mentioned
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