** Please forgive the brevity of this post and the lack of links to other great #JDRFGovDay posts; but I am really under the weather and also really wanted to get this done. Honestly, I really wanted to have it out there a week or two ago and I fear that I won’t really be able to do the experience the justice is deserves.
As I finish my series of posts about JDRF Government Day(s), I wanted to discuss the wonderful T3’s that I encountered there. Some of them were diabetic themselves and at breakfast Sunday morning, as we all stood to briefly introduce ourselves and explain why we were there, there was an incredible story from every single person. Some were tear-jerking, others inspirational. But the one thing they all had in common was that they were there for their loved ones; whether they’re still children or grown with children of their own.
But they were also there for those diabetics who are living day-to-day with diabetes; most of whom do not see how much effort everyone at the JDRF puts into research and advocacy for all diabetics.
This is where the DOC and the JDRF meet; right at the point where we want life to be better for all of us.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts; there were entire decades where I did nothing to truly manage my condition and there is no logical reason that I should even be sitting here writing this right now. I was so alone in this; the depression, guilt, anger. It wasn’t till I found the DOC that I could actually start to reach some type of acceptance.
Until very recently, I was unable to read blogs by parents about the tribulations, not only of their CWD, but also the ones themselves experienced. They always upset me as I saw that child’s future thru the lenses of my past. And I would not wish that type of life on anyone; it was barely an existence, let alone a life.
It was survivor’s guilt and I was finally able to forgive myself for surviving. Lorraine over at This is Caleb was an incredible help to me in this regard. She may not realize it, but Lorraine? Thank you so much.
And all the parents I met in Washington? Thank you as well, you’ve given me a fresh perspective on life with diabetes. One that I was sorely lacking before. Everyone of us wants a cure, that’s a given. But what we want most of all is for our children, with or without diabetes, to have the best life that they can.
Even if the cure never arrives, we can give our kids the best we can.
Let’s all do that
Scott
Scott, thanks for writing this. When I got type1 in 1967, my parents did not want to talk about it, and they certainly did not seek out other families affected by diabetes. So we never went to any family support Groups, walk-a-thons, diabetes camp or any of the activities you see families reporting on here. Of course, there weren’t as many opportunities in the 60s for kids with diabetes to meet.
So I, too, felt alone and ashamed. Now I am finding what a great healing I am experiencing by some of the super parents here, such as Lorraine, when I read their blogs, watch videos, look at the pictures: I am the one there in the picture enjoying a piece of birthday cake, I’m there meeting Nick Jonas and comparing pumps, I’m climbing the tree at Clara Barton diabetes camp with my family rooting me on, and so on. So each time I read about families here making an effort to raise diabetes awareness in big and small ways, it heals a part of my heart that broke so many times so many years ago. It’s making up for a lot, and it’s wonderful to see parents here reaching out so their kids can have the best normal lives they can.
I went through the samething as you and Marie there with my dad. My mom always tried to learn as much about diabetes as she could. When 11 years ago my 11 year old daughter was diagnosed as a Type 1 like you Scott I saw her future through my tinted (very tinted) lends at the time. I just really saw no future for her but fighting everybody at every step all through her life. I was so glad that this site was here 4 years ago it helped me understand loads that my mom went through, that I had went through with my daughter and trying to raise awarness in her school & with her friends.