Jasmine was dx with Type 1 Diabetes on January 13, 2010.
A day that will forever be carved in stone in our memories.
Life as we knew it changed that day. Life would never be the same.
However, it did not mean the end to our hopes and dreams for our daughter, but a different way of life now and forever more.
We were asked to write 6 things we want people to know about Type 1 Diabetes.
I still feel like a infant in this world of T1 but here are some things I would like to share.
1. I still get angry, cry and kick the walls at times. Just because it has been 10 months doesn't mean that my emotions are not on a roller coaster. There are good days but there are bad ones. Days that no matter what you do, T1 diabetes will do whatever it pleases to my little girl's body!! So do NOT give me advice and tell me that she should of done this or that when you have NO clue about the situation. What worked yesterday may not work today. Every single day is a new adventure. Sometimes we make it to the top of the mountain, some days we don't, but we never, ever give up the climb!!
2. When I ask if you could donate $5 to help support my daughter in a fund raiser do not just IGNORE me. If you are annoyed by my requests for donations that would help with the research to find a cure, then let me tell you this....as long as my daughter's life is in danger because of T1 diabetes, then I am going to "annoy" you today, tomorrow and every day until a cure is found. She is NOT going to outgrow it. The only solution is a cure and I will do everything in my power to fight for her.
3. I know there are other posts that are more medically informational or more positive but I want you to know how it feels to have a child with a life long disease. AND stop telling me, it could be worse.......it could of been cancer.......she could be in a wheelchair......this is NOT a competition for who has the worse disease or illness. All I know is that T1 affects my child and our lives. I have a child whom I put to bed every night and pray that she awakes in the morning. I check her levels in the middle of the night and when she is low I MUST awaken her to drink or eat. I can't just forget or think that just one night it will be ok. T1 doesn't sleep, doesn't take a vacation so neither does this mom in taking care of my daughter.
4. I know that some of you mean well when you say how strong I am, how you couldn't handle this if it was your child.........I am NOT superwoman, supermom.....I am just a mom who does handle this horrid disease because this is my child and I love her. Am I exhausted? Am I overwhelmed? Am I ready to scream? Yes, yes and yes!!!! But I do it for my daugher just like I know you would do it for your child.
5. I am extremely thankful for insulin. Without this miracle in a bottle my daughter would die. It is her life support system. However, don't say to me that we have insulin and it is manageable so it is NOT a big deal. There are still highs that can cause damage years from now and lows that cause immediate concerns. Both are dangerous. We will never have T1 under control. We must strive daily to do the best we can do but T1 is always the one in control. It is not just giving her a shot of insulin and then that's the end...that is just the beginning.
6. Trying to end with at least something positive here......My daughter is awesome. She is my hero. There is NOTHING she can not accomplish in this life, there is NOTHING she can not do. She is my blessing from God. You think you are blessed because you have a child without diabetes, well I am BLESSED with a child with diabetes. I wish that all of us could have her strength and attitude. She amazes me with how she has accepted this disease, putting up with all the crap that goes along with it, and never complains. So please understand, do not feel "sorry" for me, be my friend, ask how my daughter is doing, and support us in our efforts to find a cure. Be it through sharing links, donations or prayers. Sometimes just a hug does wonders to help this d-mom through these days.......
