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| My little Mama who went to heaven in 2008 |
I'm at the start of a new journey in my life this Mother's Day. It's a little scary... and I'm just at the beginning. I was diagnosed with diabetes in mid-April, just a few short weeks ago... yes, I know people deal with this hateful disease all the time, and live full, rich, wonderful lives... they get it under control, learn to eat right, exercise, and all that stuff... and I'm working toward all that as well... but right now, at this moment... I'm a little mad... a little scared...
I've always been the "healthy as a horse" one... and now I have insanely high glucose levels, cholesterol levels, and REALLY high triglycerides!!!! Yikes!!! I'll get it all down, it's manageable, but I'm still kinda mad! And my eyes are doing weird things... vision keeps changing... and now... the one who hates going to the doctor with a passion... is now becoming best friends with him!
My Mama developed diabetes when she was a few years younger than I am now... she had a doctor who made some dreadful mistakes with her medication (said doctor actually left the country for awhile to escape lawsuits)... causing my Mama's pancreas to die and digest itself and having to be removed... all Mama's body systems began shutting down... none of the doctors in ICU expected her to live... but she did... for seven more years... but she was full blown, insulin dependent diabetic, plus TONS of other health issues.
Because of what Mama went through... I'm a little scared...
Mama has always been my hero... and now that I'm dealing with just a fraction of the "D-word" stuff she had to deal with, she's even MORE my hero! And I miss her!
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| My sister, Beth (right) and me |
Another hero in my life right now is my sister, Beth. She has dealt with gestational diabetes during her pregnancies and has a child with juvenile diabetes. She's the one I've been calling when the fear takes hold, when I get good news, or bad news, or when I have questions... she's the BEST!!!! I honestly don't know what I'd do without her right now!
(One day after my diagnosis with the big "D" we lost our youngest brother to an unexpected heart attack, he was only 51... We love and miss you so much, Kevin!)
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| Kevin |
At this point in time, I'm in awe of the people who have dealt with this ugly disease for years... I've only been here for weeks and I'm already tired of my fingertips feeling like pin cushions, I'm tired of my vision changing every day (though they tell me this is normal and it will level out soon... my biggest fear is going blind... even more so than death I think!), I'm tired of thinking about and analyzing every bite I put into my mouth, tired of the nausea, headaches, dizziness, digestive issues... tired of being tired, tired of remembering to take medicine at regular intervals... EVERY DAY!!!!
This girl...
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| My beautiful niece, Cassie |
... has been living with juvenile diabetes since she was in elementary school (eight years old, I think, when diagnosed)... she's now 15 and gorgeous, smart, and funny... active... soccer star, great student, has a boyfriend who thinks she's the best... she's AMAZING!!!!!! And another of my heroes! My sister assures me that Cass gets down, gets angry at the D-word, gets frustrated, and emotional... but I've only ever seen her taking it in stride as she pricks her fingers and gives herself her insulin injections... and keeping on keeping on! She's something else! (and we share the same birthday, so she's super special!) I want to be like her when I grow up!
And then there's my hero that takes care of me every day, who holds me when I cry over this frustrating curve ball life has thrown me... who lifts my spirits, makes me laugh, treats me like a queen... my husband... better known to you all as Mr. G! I love him!!!! He is my rock, my lifeline, my world!
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| Papa (Mr. G) and granddaughter, Carissa |
Happy Mother's Day!
Call your Mama if you can... tell everyone you love that you love them TODAY!... you may not have tomorrow!
