Last year I had the pleasure of acting as assistant coach for my daughter’s soccer team. The Ladybugs ended up coming in first place in there division which was an awesome start to my daughters soccer career. As assistant coach, it was so much fun to meet all these cool kids and get to see how my daughter interacts with them on a social level. She is just like me, a little social butterfly.
One of the other cool things about coaching is getting to meet a bunch of fellow parents. My wife and I became friends with one of the mom’s. Her daughter is actually one of my daughters best friends so that was nice finally meeting her. She has one older daughter around my son’s age and a younger daughter (who is adorable) who started Kindergarten this year.
On Monday (the day before our kids went back to school) my wife called the Mom to see if Gillian (my daughter) could walk home with her daughter and stay over at their house until my son got out of school and picked Gillian up to walk back to our house. The Mom was so nice and said, “of course she can come over. No problem at all!”
She continued, “You know my youngest daughter is supposed to start Kindergarten tomorrow. All last week she kept wetting the bed and I assumed she was nervous about starting at a ‘big’ school. Well, I decided to check her blood sugar last night (the mom is a borderline diabetic so she has a BG machine) just for the heck of it and it was over 300! I am taking her to the doctors in the morning.”
My wife hung up the phone and told me what happened. I was crushed.
I immediately called the Mom back and told her that if her or her husband had any questions, needed any help, or wanted me to talk with her daughter to please call me anytime.
It’s funny but she seemed way more together then I would have been but maybe that is because I have lived with this thing for almost 16 years. I told my son George and he said, “Oh my gosh Dad. Her life will never be the same huh?” Then I saw his eyes well up.
I couldn’t even answer him because that comment brought me to tears too. My 12 year old knows from what his old man goes through, and what he goes through because of me, just how life changing and difficult this D-life can be.
This little, sweet, funny girl who on the day she was to begin her academic career was stopped by a stupid disease. I hope I can help.
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11 comments:
George-
What a sad thing. I am glad the mother saw her bed wetting and knew of other causes rather than just fear of school. I always feel terrible when I learn of a child that is dx simply because I know what is to come in the future for them. It is even more difficult when you know them on a very personal level.
Not only will you be a GREAT resource but it sounds like your son has a lot of compassion as well and will be a good resource even at 12 yrs old.
Well, brother, maybe this is a beginning to the answer to your post in July about "finding your true purpose".
You can make a difference in this child's life - right now, from the beginning.
And you will do a good job.
If anyone can help these people, it's you, George. This is your calling. It's moments like this that will give you the opportunity to make such a difference in child's life.
As sorry as I am that their child has been diagnosed with diabetes, they are very lucky to have you to help them.
SuperGeorge.
flmgodog - I am glad too that she thought of testing her BG. My son is an amazing guy. I wish you could all meet him. Maybe I will let him do a guest post.
Minnesota Nice - I never thought about that. Thanks for remembering my posts better then I do! :)
Kerri - Thanks for your encouragement and the sweet nick name!
You guys are all so great.
Aw man.
Suckage indeed.
However, as everyone has already said, she does have a "big brother" to lean on.
I wish that my parents and I had that type of resource back when I was diagnosed.
wow, george, this brought tears to my eyes - mostly the party about what your son said. amazing.
Man. I hate this damned disease. I'm glad the mom caught it early, but still. My heart hurts for that little girl.
Hey George -
I recently wrote this over at Sandra's:
When I was Joseph's age, I wish I had known people who had had this disease for years and still led productive, fulfilling, satisfying lives so that I knew it was possible.
I wish I had known that my life as an adult could be so full and wonderful, even with diabetes, that I'm not sure I would trade it in for a non-diabetic life if it meant giving up what I have now. (If I could keep everything and jettison the diabetes, of course I would).
I think this little girl is lucky in that you can provide her with those examples. One reason to keep fighting the good fight.
-Art-Sweet
Wow, this is super sad. I hate hearing about another kid being diagnosed. I'm really glad they know you though George, and I hope you can help them through this potentially trying time.
Oh shoot, how sad. It still always shocks me when I hear of someone getting diagnosed...even when I don't know them at all.
Since Brendon has been diagnosed, I've come into contact with so many people who either have it, or who've been diagnosed...I'm talking Type 1 here!
It's good that they know you and have someone to relate to and seek out advice. That's such a big tool to help with coping with D.
Not fair, just not fair. This post got the tears going. We don't just need a cure for D, but a prevention so people just never get D in the first place.
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