Walking through a regular Saturday

Young Chang

COSTA MESA -- Nicholas Brown proved Saturday that he’s a veteran

player of the healthy-boy role.

Shimmying down the runway in Greendog navy cargo pants and a simple

Greendog plaid shirt, he let his short corn-silk blond hair shine and

smiled with just a curl of mischief.

Nicholas, 12, has practiced enough to perfect the part. He’s walked

many a runway through shows organized by the Pediatric Adolescent

Diabetes Research and Education group. And he’s adjusted well to being

different.

But backstage at Macy’s fashion show for their exclusive label,

Greendog, amid racks of flung-off children’s wear and the post-show

flurry of kids grabbing party favors for a job well done, Nicholas lifted

his shirt to reveal just why, at least on this day, he was the normal

one.

He showed an insulin pump attached to his stomach -- a circular gauge

bandage connected by wire to a small insulin-reading gadget. You could

call it the juvenile diabetic’s version of a cool little beeper clipped

to the waistline of low-riding pants.

Among the 14 type-1 diabetic children from the education group who

modeled for Saturday’s show, the pump was nothing new. Neither was

diabetes.

“It’s a day where I can get together with other diabetics and feel

normal,” Nicholas said.

His mother Kimberly added, “They can show everyone that they’re just

like everyone else.”

Along with the child models, dogs and kittens from the Irvine Animal

Care center looked adorable, sharing the runway for the 30-minute fashion

show and pet adoption all rolled into one.

“We like to definitely tie-in charities with children’s events,” said

Macy’s special events coordinator Kristen Meeker. “We at once have not

only compassion for the kids, but so the public is aware that they are

normal people, too, living a normal life.”

Among the more than 100 shoppers who stopped to visit the show, quite

a few inquired about adopting Minky, a 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier

Mix; Vincent, a 3-month-old Pointer mix; Fye, a 3-month-old domestic

shorthair; and Mustard, a 2-month-old domestic shorthair.

None were adopted Saturday, as interested visitors were referred to

the shelter, but everyone who stopped by received a pamphlet about

diabetes.

“It was to get the word out there for the history of diabetes, for

kids going back to school and to educate the public,” Meeker said.

Visitors also left with a feel of what the hottest teen fashions may

be come fall.

“It’s all about plaid,” said Paige Collins, a freelance stylist who

coordinated the fashion for the show. “Comfortable fabrics -- nylon,

denim and cotton -- and the athletic look.”

If you’re into layering short-sleeved T-shirts over long sleeved

jerseys, for example, this fall will be the time to do it.

But more than fashion tips and a good time, Nicholas left the show

with the rarest treat.

To regulate his insulin levels, the Whittier boy doesn’t eat much

sugar. But Saturday, mom Kimberly allowed him one Bodega chocolate bar

for a fashion show well walked.

“It tasted really rich and fudge-y,” Nicholas said. “But I know that

it’s against my life, so I can live without sweets.”

-- Young Chang writes features. She may be reached at (949) 574-4268

or by e-mail at o7 young.chang@latimes.comf7 .