Hello to all,
I’d like to start by saying my heart is with all of you, who continue to fight everyday to make it.
My name is Sherri, I am 32 yrs old, and have 2 children. My son is 12, my daughter 4. I was engaged to be married this past July.
In my heart, always engaged to Mark Robert Joseph Santos.
On March 31st, 2008, in Edmonton Alberta, Canada, my fiancee Mark, was tragically killed while in operation of a semi truck. Mark was a type 1 diabetic, who had struggled just shy of 15 years of his life of 26.
He had the attitude of " If you don’t give it your all, you will never make it". Well he did just that.
Driving Semi for 6 years, he had more than showed his unique ability to be one of the best on the road… Anywhere he worked employers, were always in aw with this talented, dedicated, loving man who they proudly put behind the wheel of one of ther trucks.
He knew that it was tiring, hard on the body, and most of all taking away from his need to be home , around his family. Mark and I had discussed on several occasions that it was best if he started looking towards a new career. He was absolutely an amazing driver, but the time away was very difficult for him now that he had his own family. He wanted to be able to be home every night, and get to have his family by his side.
On March 30th, Mark left here to do his run from Edmonton, to Grande Prarie. His route was to get to GP, unload, and make his way back. Being it was a 5 hour run one way, Mark always took the smart step by pulling over almost half way for the night.
March 31st, 2008, the day i will never be able to get past. Mark was almost home, we had just spoke. He was on his way into city limits, when something horrible went wrong. I wish i could tell you , it was a mistake, but unfourtunately being a type 1 mistakes were tragic. Mark went into a hypoglycemic state while behind the wheel of a semi. A 15 to 20 minute ordeal pursued, before ultimately, losing consciousness, and his truck crossed the main highway on the wrong side. His vehicle went up a overpass which caused his truck to hit, and plunge over.There is so much more but for me that is where i need to stop. He died on scene shortly afterwards.
I am sharing this with you, because i have comfort here. Diabetes is real, it’s a harsh reality to a life of constant worry.
From the day this happned i screamed, cried, yelled that no matter what, it had to be his diabetes.
For almost 5 months, we were harassed, or bothered at some level from media, or just ignorant comments on the internet. No one wanted to believe this 26 yr old man died from a disease but , maybe a overdose, or suicide. Constant questions, endless remarks, as if this wasn’t traumatic enough, we were here trying to morn him, and instead found ourselves defending him at the same time.
Just about at the 5 month point, i got a call. It was the medical examiner letting me know that indeed there was absolutely no other reason, than Mark going into a hypoglycemic state, to bring on the chaotic actions that day,
Once again came this crazy media attention. The depth one will go to for a story,the local stations here, papers, all waited anxiously for these results.
I never needed a medical report to tell me the results of Marks death. I said it on March 31st, and everyday after that, My precious Mark died at the hands of a disease that ultimately consumed him.
I hope for all of you, sharing this information had helped you see i too suffer with Diabetes, maybe not by being diagnosed, but on every level over and above that.
I would do it all over again, in a heartbeat.
I am here, full force to try my hardest to help find a cure, i will do anything i can to help make a difference.
TU DIABETES, “we will oneday say… We Won the war against U”
Take care of yourselves, and enjoy your lives, they are so precious.
Sincerly,
Sherri McIntyre