I’ve always told people “I’m not a quitter”. For the past 24 years that I’ve smoked I always jokingly say that when people ask “When are you going to quit?” Well, it’s now time to call me QUITTER. This coming Sunday, Dec. 21st is the day.
My story is long, but I want to share a little with you. I was diagnosed with T1 at age 2 1/2. My brother, who is 3 years younger than me, was diagnosed with T1 at age 2 also. It was great growing up together and never knowing anything different. Our parents did a fantastic job of educating us and taking care of us. We went to Joslin twice a year, had our eyes checked, did our urine testing in test tubes on the bathroom sink and dad gave us our injections in our bottoms. We knew our friends didn’t do these things, but we did.
As a family we travelled - extensively. I had my 13th birthday in a Boma in Africa. From the ages of 13 to 19 we travelled to all 7 continents and 104 countries. Yes, there was normally one entire suitcase filled with nothing but diabetes supplies: insulin, injections, blood testing equipment (once it became available), snacks, etc… As I said, our parents were fantastic. They decided when we were very small that there was nothing we could not do, diabetes or not!
Well, when I was 15 I spent a summer at the Clara Barton Camp for girls with Diabetes in Massassachussetts. I was a CIT - Counselor in Training. It was that fun, yet fateful, summer that introduced me to smoking. I don’t remember why I tried the first one. Yes, the “cool” girl was doing it … Kim (no last names to protect the innocent), so I tried it. And, I never stopped. It’s now been 24 years and I’m still smoking. My parents have tried for years to get me to quit. My friends have tried and this past year my husband and kids have REALLY tried.
You see, I was married on Dec. 5, 1993 to the most amazing man in the world! My husband Alex started smoking the day we were married. Nerves? Who knows?, but he smoked for 14 years and quit last Jan. 1, 2008. For almost a year he’s been patiently asking me “are you going to quit? You know it’s not good for you, especially with the diabetes.” Again, I’ve used the old “I’m not a quitter” line and he has patiently been shaking his head for all these months.
Well, when Alex and I first married 15 years ago, we eloped. In 1995 I gave birth to our daughter and in 1998 I gave birth to our son. Now, last year, we rejoined the Catholic Church ( I told you this story was long and I’m being “choppy” but there is a point… hang in there…) The kids had both been baptized but had not received First Communion. Sept. 2007 we enrolled them in a private class to prepare them for Communion. The scheduled date for the celebration was Dec. 22. A week before the Communion the woman teaching the kids called me and was verifying information for the church records. One question was “when were you and Alex married?” Easy, 12/5/93. “What church?” she asked. We eloped, I answered. “Ut OH” she said. Well, to make a long story short, we were “remarried” Dec. 21st. My dad finally got to give me away and it turned into a very special event.
So, now, here we are … Dec. 16, 2008. Sunday will be one year that I’ve been remarried to my wonderful husband. I’ve decided that I want to give my husband and my children the gift of my health for Christmas and for our “one” year anniversary.
Wish me luck! and, please do share… did you do the patch? cold-turkey? You? your friends?
Erin