My heart is aching today. Not for me but for a total stranger. Actually for a whole community of total strangers. It is also hurting for a friend. My best friend. Today, a family in Abilene suffered a loss. A horrible, disgusting, unnecessary, tragic loss. The worst part is that it was a child they lost.
A Child!!!!!!!
I cried. It sickens me. It sickens me even more that it was a child lost to Type 1 Diabetes. There should be a cure by now!! This isn't your everyday, run of the mill kind of diabetes. This is not a disease you get from poor dieting and lack of exercise. It's not something you do to yourself! This is an autoimmune disorder that can happen to ANYONE!! So, where is the cure? Where??? Why are so many children losing their lives to this disease and having to live this way....in fear? How can there be so many advancements in technology to help those suffering from this sneaky, life altering disease but no answer as to how to fix it?
Politics? Money? Greed?
Yes, I am certain all three are playing a roll in this and it's not fair!! The parents and the children deserve an answer!! They have lived in fear long enough. I watch all of these stimulus bills fly through congress full of earmarks. I watch the millions, no, wait, billions of dollars in earmarks going towards parking garages, swine waste management, small fruit research, The Paper Industry International Hall of fame and so on and so forth. These selfish, ignorant jerks do it just to have their name on something. Why would you want your name on things so ridiculous?? Why not put the money to good use?? You know, like researching diseases and helping to prevent them and cure them. If I were a senator and I had my name go on something it would not be on "the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame"!! I would want it to go on a State of the Art building that was cranking out cures that save lives!! Doesn't that make sense?? Yes, yes it does...to people like me and you. Those of us who have souls that haven't yet been sold for campaign contributions and political gain.
Lord knows these politicians DO NOT want to piss off these pharmaceutical companies who donate millions in campaign contributions with the return favor of only finding life long drug fixes for diseases rather than life changing cures!! As long as the money is rolling in what do they care??
I am so disgusted having to see families suffer through this kind of heartbreak! I am tired of watching young kids constantly having to shed blood for the disease. I'm tired of the blue candles burning and I'm tired of seeing the word "HOPE" on everyone's hands when I know inside that they just feel hopeLESS at times.
I can't imagine the pain of having to live with a constant fear. I don't ever want to live through it with my own children but I am an outsider who watches through the eyes of a family that is very near and dear to my heart and I hate that they are living this hell! I am also not blind to the fact that this could happen to my kids or anyone of our kids for that matter.
It makes it even more real that I have a sister with the disease. A sister who better be taking care of herself!!!
There is nothing that makes you special and will keep your kid from being attacked. So before you ignore this and think "this could never happen to my family" take some time to pray for these people. Yes they are people, they are real, they exist. They are scared mothers and fathers who take turns sleeping because they are scared that they will lose their child, they are children who pray for a cure so that they can quit trying to find a good finger to use to test...a finger that isn't yet calloused from so many pricks. They are beautiful teenager girls who want to wear that beautiful dress to prom WITHOUT having to find a place to put her insulin pump so it won't bulge through that "perfect dress". They are young boys who want to play football without having to stop for a sugar pill, or quick stick because all of that running made them go low, or have to get a shot of insulin because all of that adrenaline made them go high. They are 8 year olds who miss field trips because there isn't enough staff trained to care for them and mom and dad have to work to make sure they have insurance for this overly priced disease. They are 18 month old's with keytone strips in their diapers. And you never know if you will have to join their community someday it may be you on their side asking for prayers.
I wish that everyone would take a moment and light a blue candle to show your support for this family that you may or may not know and for all of the other families with breaking hearts. Also take some time to email your Senators and Congressmen and demand answers and cures not temporary fixes that cost tons of dollars!!! They need to quit being bought by the damn drug companies and start remembering who they are working for!!!! I am emailing them what I wrote in this blog right now. Take some time and email them your feelings too.
My prayers are with all of the families out there dealing with this!!
| This can happen to ANYONE so learn the Warning signs of T1D (these may occur suddenly): |
- Extreme thirst
- Frequent urination
- Sudden vision changes
- Sugar in urine
- Fruity, sweet, or wine-like odor on breath
- Increased appetite
- Sudden weight loss
- Drowsiness, lethargy
- Heavy, labored breathing
- Stupor, unconsciousness
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