THE STORY OF ONE FAMILY'S JOURNEY WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES AND CELIAC DISEASE.
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Sunday, April 3, 2011

I made a new friend yesterday.

(photo credit)

She's new to the neighborhood....just moved in a few days ago.

She doesn't know the area at all, because she hasn't been out to explore much.

I stumbled upon her when I walked by the truck she was sitting in and heard someone crying. Remembering what it was like to live in a new neighborhood and not know a soul around you, I decided I'd better check to see if she needed anything.

There were two women in the truck.  One of them was crying and talking on the phone, so I walked around and introduced myself to the other.

The scene that followed can only be described as tragic...emotional...heartbreaking.  As it turned out, they had been sitting in the truck for several hours, because they didn't want to go inside.  There were 3 small children on the other side of that door (with a grandmother), and they didn't know how to tell them their fathers had been killed in a car accident the night before.  So they stayed in this truck, holding each other, while coping with the reality of suddenly becoming widowed.

One woman was my new neighbor, and the other was a friend who had traveled from out of state to assist with the move.

And then there was me.

I called another neighbor who is married to a Pastor.

They came.

We prayed.

We all stayed there for about 3 hours...praying, holding them, crying with them.  The women were trying to make phone calls, and additional support was at least 6 - 8 hours away.

It was getting very hot, and they were getting very weak.  Dehydration, exhaustion, and emotionally depleted, everyone knew why they weren't going inside...but we had to move out of the heat before one or both of them fell to heat exhaustion.

Still unsure of how to proceed, the grandmother ushered the children upstairs so they could move into a downstairs bedroom.  After a short time, they wanted to hold their children -- and the children were upstairs calling for them...

It was time.

The children came, and huddled on the bed.  Composed, strong, and unwavering, each mother took her child into their arms and told them the truth.  Two 5 year old girls and a 2 year old boy.

"Daddy isn't ever coming home."

I simply cannot find words to describe those moments.

We left them curled together in that bed, holding their children, and weeping without answers to their questions.  

Tons of people were on the way, including both sets of grieving parents.

Most of the furniture remained in storage, limited food filled the pantry, dishes and such were still packed.  After evaluating the big picture, my neighbor and I enlisted the help of other neighbors.

If there is any light that could possibly come out of this darkness, it's what happened next:

An outpouring of groceries began showing up.  Plastic plates, napkins, and the like.  Freezer ready meals.  Air mattresses.  Toys for the children.  Offers for guest bedrooms, and bathrooms for showers.

God met us there...in the pit of sorrow while strangers held fragile, broken hearts, and a painful reality unveiled itself.  He showed up.

This is a story about my new friend.

And I realize it has nothing to do with diabetes or celiac.

But it has everything to do with friendship and humanity.

In the end, that is what unites us all.
1 Timothy 5:3 (New Living Translation) 3 Take care of any widow who has no one else to care for her.
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25 comments:

  1. *Tears*. God put you there for a reason, Wendy. You are a warrior, my friend. Prayers go out to these families.

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  2. What a blessing you must have been to those people. I cannot imagine the absolute heartbreak for them, and I think most people would avoid stepping into such a messy situation. Thank God that you aren't most people, Wendy.

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  3. What a Blessing YOU were to your new neighbor this weekend. I can only guess how much that must have meant to her. You have got the biggest heart of anyone I have ever known and I am lucky to be able to call you my friend.

    (((HUGS))) to you and your new friend tonight.

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  4. I have so much admiration for you with the way you cared for these grieving women, strangers you'd never met before. I can not imagine their sorrow. :(

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  5. That is so sad, my heart goes out to those woman and their familes.

    I am honored to know you, youre a wonderful person Wendy,

    love you.

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  6. I agree with what everyone says...you are AMAZING and have such a giving heart. Prayers to your new friend and her family.

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  7. There was a reason you walked by that truck and heard their cries... How wonderful that you and your neighbors were there for them, in every way. Praying for peace for your new friends. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

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  8. So glad you were there and able to help them during such a tragic and sad time. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

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  9. That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read. You are a beautiful person, Wendy...for caring and for rallying your neighbors to help these women. Thank you for sharing this, and thank you for sharing your heart. ((hugs))

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  10. thank you for your story. I almost cried reading your post too! what an amazing weekend for us both and what an amazing God. How do people deny that a God exists when things like this happen?? love, jennifer. www.type1diabetic3yearold.blogspot.com

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  11. I have been thinking about you and these families all day today. My heart is breaking over and over again each time I think about this. You have such a kind and caring heart. There aren't a lot of people who would have gotten involved like you did but God lead you to them for a reason. Today in church Pastor Tim said that sometimes in a marriage, you will get to a point where you may take your spouse for granted. After his sermon and what happened to your neighbor and her friend, I am going to try my best to make each day with my husband special because you just never know. I'm here if I can help in any way at all. Lots of love to you, my friend.

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  12. Wendy, thank you for sharing. As painful as it was, you were clearly destined to be there, to offer help and solace. What a gift. My thoughts and prayers go out to those heartbroken women and their families.

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  13. *I meant Pastor Don (I was thinking of my old church)

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  14. You are the most incredible selfless woman I know. You give and give and give. You care for others you don't even know. You are an angel.

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  15. Wendy- I have no words, only tears....Thank you for being His hands & feet. I will be praying for these families.-Allison

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  16. Crying...this is hearbreaking. I'm sure you were such a blessing to them to be there at that time and pray with them. Just another heartbreaking example that we don't know what each day holds for any of us.

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  17. What a true blessing! Not only you, but these women who needed you. You all had the opportunity to bless each other in so many ways. What a wonderful way to be used by The Lord!

    Job well done, good and faithful servant.

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  18. What a heartbreaking story. God put you there for a reason...because of your heart. You have a very special one and are a blessing to so many people. I love you. I will pray for your new friend and her family.

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  19. Oh Wendy. I'm so glad you were there to help them! I know you were a huge blessing. You are an amazing person to give so much.....

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  20. oh wow. my goodness. shock. you were a blessing to them without a doubt.

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  21. May God bless you Wendy! You have a wonderful heart. This week, I learned about philos love in my bible study. It means friend. I wanted to share a passage with you:

    "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Pet. 3:8

    You've lived this passage out beautifully. My thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.

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  22. Wendy - truly, I think you landed in your neighborhood for a reason. I wonder what some of your neighbors who have been in crisis these past couple of years would have done without you. So glad you were there for these poor families. What a horrible tragedy..I keep thinking about it and it makes me SO sad. Hugs friend..

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  23. Thank-you for sharing this. I was crying to hard to read the comments that everyone else left. These families will be in my prayers! God is good all of the time, even in the middle of a tragedy. I am glad that you were available to be used as His hands and feet for this family. May you continue to be a light in their darkness. ((hugs))

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  24. This is such a tragic situation. My heart is just broken for these families...for these children :( You are an amazing person and God is most definitely working through you.

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While I'm happy to share our experiences with what works, and what doesn't work, for the management of Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease in our house, please do not mistake anything you read here for medical advice. Decisions regarding your/your child's health care should be made only with the assistance of your medical care team. Use any information from this blog at your own risk.