DBlogWeek 2012 Day 7: ONE.

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??

Okay, so this post is late.

Actually, when it becomes history, you won't know that because I'm going to schedule it to make it look like it was written on time.

Except now I've spilled the beans.

So...yeah.  This post is late...but the date says it was posted on 5/20 -- the official DAY 7 of Diabetes Blog Week 2012.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

The truth is that I couldn't decide who I'd make my "Diabetes Hero".

Immediately, I thought of my daughter, Sugar.  She's my hero for the way she has gracefully risen to the challenges she faces.  Then I thought of her sisters.  They're certainly heroes for the way they are able to see beyond diabetes, to the innermost depths of Sugar's soul, in only the way that a sister could.  Mr. Rose...that man works a blue-collar, labor intensive job, outside, in 110+ degree heat in order to provide for our family.  He's my hero everyday.

I thought of the hundreds of parents I've met who are also raising a child with diabetes.
And the grown-up people with diabetes who have given me the gift of a glimpse into what Sugar's future may hold.
And many parents of those grown-up people with diabetes who have blazed the trails for parents like me.

Drs. Banting and Best for inventing insulin?  Heroes.
Dean Kamen for inventing the insulin pump?  Hero.
Tireless advocacy organizations?  Heroes.

So, I was stuck.

And then it dawned on me that I was struggling with this topic, because I hadn't stopped to consider my biggest hero of all.

You see, after diabetes entered our picture, we found ourselves in a predicament.

I carried our health insurance, and didn't have enough leave to recover from the time I needed to take off when dealing with her diagnosis, before our second baby was due to arrive a few months later.  Without a leave bank, we faced the very real possibility that we could lose our health insurance on the first of the month, following the birth of our baby.

A newly diabetic toddler and a new baby ... with no health insurance?

So, Mr. Rose began looking high and low for a job that offered benefits.  (He was a contractor, and his position at the time didn't offer any.)

He flew out to interview for his current position in October of 2005, and learned the position he was there for didn't open for new candidates very often.  As a rule, new helicopter mechanics were hired...when someone else retired.

On December 14th, he was offered the job.

I went into labor later that day.

We couldn't have planned the timing better if we had tried.

We faced a huge move across country, had to leave behind many loved ones, and spent a few months paying both a mortgage and the rent ...but we never lost access to health insurance.

That move has turned out to be one of the biggest blessings in our life.  Our marriage been strengthened, and we've discovered a number of wonderful friendships.  We found an amazing endocrinologist who was willing to advocate for the insulin pump, even at a very young age.  We live walking distance from the school where an amazing team of nurses (more heroes!) keep track of Sugar every day.  We stumbled into an incredible church community, and have been able to repair our broken spirits from the shock of her diagnosis.  I've been given the opportunity to work from home, and he's been given the opportunity to earn a college degree.

We have truly bloomed where we were planted.

And there is really only ONE hero I can credit it to.

Thank you, dear Lord.

Sugar, about 1 year before our lives changed forever.