I just spent the best weekend meeting new friends and being inspired at the Diabetes Sisters weekend conference in San Diego.
I left on Friday feeling depressed and not sure what to expect with this conference.
First let me start by saying, I have NEVER traveled alone. I thought WOW I get to sit alone on the plane, go to my room alone, read, listen to my ipod and just reflect. Well, I hated it! When you have always had someone (husband, kids, friends) around you certainly are not use to being alone.
The first night I was there I went to a sports bar and even had dinner alone. I kept looking at all the women wondering if they too had Diabetes and where they their for the conference as well.
After I ate dinner, “Diabetes Sisters” had arranged to show a movie in one of the conference rooms. I was hoping to start meeting some new friends at this movie! When I walked in I was welcomed by some warm smiles, popcorn and a seat. Although I was unable to really introduce myself at that time, the movie was hysterical. “Mamma Mia”… I had never seen it before because I tend to not like musicals. It was so funny and now I have downloaded the song “Dancing Queen” on my ipod and it reminds me of my weekend with the ladies.
I didn’t sleep well that night. Not sure if I was feeling anxious about my next day or just feeling lonely and isolated.
The next morning I walked to my door at least 3 times to leave and finally the 4th time I said “Lori, just walk downstairs” YOU CAN DO THIS! After all, I was on a mission and that mission was to meet other women, my age, with kids, on pumps with Type 1 diabetes.
I finally was on the third floor and ready to go in. I found a table that had some inviting, warm smiling faces and decided to join them. Little did I know this table would soon fill up with other moms, wifes, pumpers with Type 1. I was SO excited to meet them.
We talked and talked and talked!
Throughout the day all you could hear were beeps and alarms going off of other ladies pumps. Reminding them to check their blood sugars or give them self insulin. I didn’t want the day to end.
We listened to many guest speakers and one of the speakers said this to us that will always stay with me. " We are here to honor you…you wake up every day and choose to fight another day to stay alive" You are all powerful women"
WOW…to have someone say that and acknowledge us was amazing. I didn’t think we had a choice.
The strength in the room was powerful. Whether you were Type 1, Type 2 or even Type 1.5 (which I didn’t even know exsisted) we were all there for each other. To embrace in our lives as Diabetic Women. The day of classes and seminars ended and it was time for me to go back to my room and take a nap.
We had another fun filled evening planned that night. I was meeting my new friends in the lobby at 6:30 for our dinner celebration.
Dinner was really good and the company was even better. They acknowledged each and every one of us by calling us up individually by however many number of years you have been living with this disease. You recieved a bracelet with a charm. The charm was a seashell with a pearl and the card inside read this " This seashell and cultured pearl charm is meant to serve as a reminder of your strengths and the pearls of wisdom you have cultivated along the way in your life with diabetes."
We were all crying. I was so touched by the warmth in the room. There was a women who lived with diabetes for 69 years. She had lost her sight and continued on to receive her Masters degree and still works at the Braille Institute. How inspiring she was.
The night was not over, after the dinner and ceremony was over, a number of us decided to go down to the bar. We found a spot for all 6 of us and the laughs began. After at least 10 minutes trying to decide what we should drink, (was it diabetic friendly, how many carbs etc) we finally got our drinks. We all whipped out our pokers, poked our fingers, bolused for our drinks and the stories began.
It’s amazing how many things we all had in common with one another. I kept thinking to myself that I only wish they could come back home with me or I could move closer to them. I didn’t want that lonely feeling to come back. I was on such a high. I didn’t want this feeling to end.
The next morning was our last day together. We all met in the conference room and the exercise classes began at 8am. We decided to take the Zumba class. I had never taken one before and thought I’d try it out. I could not stop laughing through the entire thing. We all had our pumps attached in differrent spots, some on our hips, waist, in our bra or around our legs. I was definitley not in sync with the music but could care less. I was not afraid to exercise like back at home. If I had a low blood sugar reaction, plenty of people would know what to do and it wouldn’t be that big of a deal. I really enjoyed the workout!
As my day was winding down I started to feel sadness again. We all exchanged contact information and promised to remain in touch with one another.
As we said our goodbyes one of my new friends offered to take me to the airport. She lived in the area and said it was on her way home. While in the car driving in the parking lot she took out her poker and checked her sugar while she was driving. I laughed because I do that all the time in my car. I guess we get good at multi-tasking too! I was sad to go but I felt so refreshed and filled with joy to have met such wonderful, amazing women.
It was back to reality the second I stepped in the Airport. Do I let them know I have a medical device attached to me? I have needles in my bag! Will I get stopped and searched? I don’t want any attention directed towards me! All the fears I’m sure many of you with Diabetes face. It was smooth sailing through for me. All the worries for nothing. The airports really must be used to it. Once I landed I was so happy to be home.
I powered up my phone and it went nuts! Messages and texts from my daughter. (who is 17) “Mom, call me as soon as you land” Mom, where are you?, Mom, it’s an emergency! Standby for that next post and story…Never a dull moment in my life with “Da Pump” (visit my blog at http://da-pump.blogspot.com)
