Wednesday, February 25, 2009

1 Year Ago Today...

Syd was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Just a couple statistics about this past year: Sydney has had over 1100 shots and has had her blood sugar (finger poke) checked over 2100 times.

Below is a slideshow with some of our experiences over the past year and below that is the customary Shamae commentary. :D


1 year ago today was the day Sydney was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. A lot of you have followed our diabetes journey since that day and some of you are fairly new to some of our experiences. It's been quite the adventure, full of emotions. As with most parts of life, some days are harder than others. The most amazing thing through it all is the love and support we've been shown. There are lots of areas where I have lacked in this year; however, despite my own inadequacies, we have never lacked in love and support from my family and friends. They are always there and know just when I need a "pick me up phone call" or email. Through much of this year I have felt as though I'm walking blindly just hoping there is solid ground as I take my next step. I can't express how much everyone's support has meant to me. As Bon Jovi says, "Thank you for loving me. For being my eyes when I couldn't see. For parting my lips when I couldn't breathe. Thank you for loving me." In addition to me, thank you for loving Sydney. She has touched lots of people and it always makes my heart swell when I think of the people who love her.

There have been times on this journey we've had to walk it alone but we always know the flood of support we have waiting when we emerge on the other side. I can't say "thanks" enough because it just seems inadequate. When we got thrown onto this path, I had a hard time ever seeing how our life would be "normal" again. I am very grateful to say that we have found a new normal, of course in revolves around strict schedules, carb counting, insulin, finger pokes, ketones, ect ect; nevertheless, it is our normal and life is really great. Things aren't always easy but that is life regardless of individual circumstances. It is through these "rough" times that we can experience the most growth in our lives. I will close this post with a wonderful quote: "Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it. The only question is how we will react to it. Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or stepping stones? Our responses will inevitably shape our souls and ultimately determine our status in eternity. Because opposition is divinely decreed for the purpose of helping us to grow, we have the assurance of God that in the long view of eternity it will not be allowed to overcome us if we persevere in faith. We will prevail. Like mortal life of which they are a part, adversities are temporary. What is permanent is what we become by the way we react to them.”

Click HERE to get to the post from a year ago right after diagnosis.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awwwww 365 days of bloodtesting, etc... poor thing!!!! my heart goes out to all of you. I have several relatives who are diabetic and cannot even imagine being diabetic or especially having my children go through it. I about lost it when my son had his appendix rupture when he was 4.

Micah and Jen said...

Syd is such an amazing little girl and I am so proud of the way she has been such a strength to so many this past year! What a sweet little blessing she is to so many and I am glad I have gotten to know her through your blog....and when I took her pictures! :) I hope to be able to do her pics very soon.....hugs to this sweet girl!

Holly Jo said...

WOW, what an amazing crazy, eventful year!!! Congrats for making it through with a smile on your face. Sydney is such a littel angel. I love the pics of her and Morgan hugging, so cute.

ashycam said...

Oh that brings back so many tear filled moments. I remember taking Hannah to the hospital to visit Syd and her not really understanding why Syd was in there. We miss you guys so much. We are however excited to be
making a visit to Utah and we are wanting to make a trip up to Pocatello to visit. I will be calling you at some point to see if we could possibly get some friends together at your place. Any way it was just a thought, I will talk to you about it later. Stay strong Syd, and you too Shamae. You've made it through this far. We love you guys, and can't wait to see you in May.

Stringham Family said...

Whew! I cried like a baby watching that video. I'm sitting here by my nephew and he is 3 and looked at me and said why are you crying. It took me like 5 min. to be able to respond to him. I just said cause this sweet little girl in these pictures is sick and it just isn't fair. He said, I will pray for her and beat all the bad guys up so that she will feel better. That just made it worse. What wonderful gifts children are to us in our lives. Some times they just know the right things to say.

Syd is such a wonderful sweet little girl. She is so brave and I couldn't respect her more than I do now! Some day there will be a cure and she and other children will never have to deal with this again!

She is so lucky to have such wonderful parents! You and Loren really are amazing to her and the pics of you two with her while she was sleeping or crying were my favorite ones. The ones where you were being strong for her, but you could read the emotion on your faces that you just wanted to burst into tears as well! You are such amazing parents. She couldn't be more lucky to have such awesome parents!

We love you all and will continue to pray for you and a cure!

Jayson & Carrie said...

Ahh...we love you Sydney! And you, Shamae & Loren & Morgan! congrats on the one year mark! Hope everything goes smoothly for ya from now on...and if not...you've made it this far, you can make farther. :) Loves to you...

Kevin, Kendra, and family said...

Congrats on living through the first year!! You made it!! We love you and miss you on the court. I think that it is time for a playdate!!!

Jessica said...

You are always stronger than you think you are! You have made it such a long way from that first few days!
By the way....who said that quote? I really liked it and would like to give it to someone...

Jessica said...

You are always stronger than you think you are! You have made it such a long way from that first few days!
By the way....who said that quote? I really liked it and would like to give it to someone...

Jessica said...

You are always stronger than you think you are! You've all come such a long way since those first few days....watching you you'd think you've done it forever!

By the way...who said the quote you ended with? I liked it!

Andersen Family said...

I can't believe what a brave girl Sydney is. Most likely a reflection of her mama :)

wendys said...

Syd looks so little in those pictures! She really has grown up. You are a strong family and you are taking such good care of her, you are really lucky to have each other.

Megan said...

Wow, 1 year! I distinctly remember the phone call from you telling me about Syd's diagnoses, seems like yesterday. You and Loren are wonderful parents, you are navigating the journey so gracefully.

Tara said...

i hope everything is going smoothly now!! you are such a great mom i am so proud of you. i know i would never have been as strong as you. keep up the good work!!

Dawn said...

Wow, I can't believe it has been a year already. I can see where Syd gets her strength from, you have shown such strength though everything - you are an inspiration.

The Lane Family said...

I did not realize that Sydney had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I pray that things will continue to go well for her and that there will be many new breakthroughs in the future. I love this quote as well. I truly believe there is nothing harder than watching our children having to go through medical challenges.

periwinkle4 said...

I thought I had commented on this before. . .guess not. . .anyway, I just wanted to say that while it just tears my heart out that your sweet princess has this, I couldn't be more impressed with the way you and yours are dealing with it. You are an inspiration and I hope that things can get easier - eventually a cure, right?! for sweet Sydney. Hugs!