What's Special About a Hero?

D-Blog Day 7--Diabetes Hero

Let’s end our week on a high note and blog about our “Diabetes Hero”.  It can be anyone you’d like to recognize or admire, someone you know personally or not, someone with diabetes or maybe a Type 3.  It might be a fabulous endo or CDE.  It could be a d-celebrity or role-model.  It could be another DOC member.  It’s up to you – who is your Diabetes Hero??

This is a picture I have hanging in my home.  It defines a hero.  A hero is courageous, bold, and persevering. They have superior qualities for their good deeds of any kind.  A real hero is someone who does the right thing when no one else is looking. 

Sydney was dx with Type 1 Diabetes at age 4. She never let her disease slow her down. I wish I could say the same for me.  Her diagnosis completely blindsided me and I didn't handle it in stride like Sydney did. I wanted to fight against the diagnosis. I cried so much. I felt depressed from the overwhelming nature of the disease. The learning curve gives no time to make mistakes...but we made them anyway. Sydney patiently waited while we learned the ropes. She has her ups and her downs but she handles it. She is facing a lifetime with this disease. She faces many challenges and potential side effects that are scary for an adult...I can't imagine how it is for Sydney. 

Dear Sydney,

 I know you get scared at times. That's ok. It's a scary disease. I know it hurts. That's ok, shots can sometimes hurt. Sometimes you feel bad for crying. But crying is ok--God gave us that ability for a reason. Sydney, I know you get frustrated when your numbers are hard to manage. That's ok. You have parents who love you and we want to carry as much of your frustrations as we can. We want you to be as normal of a kid as possible. Don't feel bad passing the burden onto us. 


 I hope I always get to watch you jumping on the tramp and running through the sprinkler--that means you still have your legs. I love watching you laugh at your baby sister and meticulously color a beautiful picture or watch you point out beautiful things in nature --that means your eyes still work. I'm willing to give up sleeping through the night--while the world sleeps--so I can check your blood sugar--that means your heart is still beating.  Always remember you have a family who loves you and will always love you. You are an inspiration to so many people who have grown to love and admire you. I wish love could cure you--if that were possible, you would have been cured years ago.  But, until a cure is found, we will continue to do our part to keep you healthy and let you be a free-spirited kid with as few worries as possible.  And, through it all, you will continue to be our little hero.

With love forever and ever,

Mom and Dad