Even before her daughter, Jamie, was born, Linda Butemeyer wished for an outgoing, enthusiastic, "non-shy" child. She wanted her future daughter to be fun—loving, driven, and unafraid of possibility. Once Jamie was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, she embodied all of the characteristics her mother had hoped for. She was a cheerleader and soccer player at Pioneer Park Elementary School and a dancer at Sherri's Dance Center, where she earned the nickname "hambone" because she was always "hamming up" the routines by adding her own special moves to them.

At age 12, Jamie entered into her first local beauty pageant—and won! She had watched the Miss America pageants on television but hadn't considered entering as an actual participant until her mother (a former winner of the "Miss Lawton" pageant) encouraged Jamie to "get out of the box." After her win, Jamie got hooked on competing and started planning for future titles. But then came news that no parent—or child—hopes for. Jamie was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Since she had already involved herself in pageants, soccer, and cheerleading when she was diagnosed, Jamie vowed to keep her diabetes under control so she could continue with her activities. "I called a spade a spade and accepted my diabetes. I couldn't get rid of it, but knew I didn't have to let it affect my performances in pageants. And it didn't have to affect me."

Very soon after her diagnosis of type 1, however, Jamie and her parents realized that her insulin was not helping her control her diabetes. So Jamie went back to her doctor, who then suspected that she had a rare form of diabetes called MODY (which stands for "Maturity Onset of Diabetes in the Young"). Her blood was sent to a lab in California and the results confirmed that Jamie did in fact have MODY.

MODY actually refers to seven types of diabetes that are inherited when dominant genes inhibit or suppress insulin secretion. Degrees of severity vary between the seven types but in general, MODY is similar to a mild form of type 1 diabetes with partial insulin production. Jamie and her parents were very happy about the new diagnosis because it meant she could switch from injected insulin to oral medications for maintaining her blood sugar levels.
When competing in pageants, Jamie uses "The 'TRAIN' for Healthy Children and Adults" as her platform issue. Applicable to both those with diabetes and those without the disease, the acronym "TRAIN" emphasizes the key points needed for leading a healthy life. She tells her audience that:

• Today is the day to start
• Rest your body
• Activity is a must
• 'I think I can' is the right mindset, and
• Nutrition is key.

Jamie has perfected the concept by doing many presentations at her local hospital and believes the strength of the "TRAIN" lies in its ability to make changes in lifestyle seem less daunting. "I explain each letter and how they all are connected and necessary for attaining a healthy lifestyle, or in 'train terminology,' how all the boxcars work together to reach a final destination."

Jamie, now 22, sees herself as a performer, so it is no surprise she hopes to be on Broadway and attend college as a Musical Theatre major like her mother. But between costume changes and rehearsals, she has every intention of continuing to spread knowledge about diabetes by also becoming a health educator and specializing in nutrition.

She encourages those who have diabetes to never give up and to continue to participate in the activities they love. "I know it is cliché, but just do what you have to do to make yourself the best you can be. I think of my diabetes as just another part of my body and this helps me to maintain it."

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