Just what the Doctor Ordered

Shortly after Taylar was diagnosed I craved to have someone to talk to and who could relate with me. I wanted to talk with another parent who goes through the same daily struggles as I do.  I had reached out to a local organization that helps families in our situation in need of resources or finances.  I told the lady that there should be a diabetes support group.  She went through her files and made up a list of her type 1 diabetes clients, asked their permission to share emails, and sent out a group email with everyone's information on it. 

The email sat there in my inbox, and everyone else's I suppose, for weeks.  After a rough d-day, I  finally bit the bullet and wrote a group email to those on the contact list introducing myself and my connection with diabetes.  For those of you who know me I'm pretty shy so I was quite proud of myself for taking the first step.  After all, I was the one who asked for the group in the first place.

Sure enough people replied, telling their own stories and thanking me for being the first one to speak up.  There was one lady in particular who also emailed me separately from the group about possibly wanting to get together because her daughter is only a year older than Taylar.  I mentioned I'm kinda shy right? 

Well, long story short, last night we got together.  I invited my friend to go with me along with her daughter who was diagnosed a year ago and goes to Taylar's school.  Us three moms and the three girls got along great.  It was quite an experience.  It's crazy how from the moment I got out of the car I felt like I knew so much about this woman, yet we had never met before.  I suddenly wasn't as shy as I think I am.  Diabetes has changed me.  I was comfortable laughing with her, crying with her, and just sharing stories from the heart.  We shared stories that other people may think are insignificant or silly but we all "got it".  That's the hardest thing about the big "D".  People just don't get it unless they live it... every.  single.  day.

This new friend's daughter was diagnosed at age 3.  It amazes me that after six years she she is still wanting to reach out and connect with other people.  It felt so good to hear someone else's stories, whether good, bad, funny, or sad, and say, "I know exactly what you mean!" 

We got to her house at 6:30 and didn't leave until 11:30!  Talk about out of my character!  I am such a stickler about bed time.  Ah well, it was a wonderful night and just what the doctor ordered.