Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by NatalieHodge on April 10, 2012 at 8:09pm

thanks Emily, I am of that school o thought that what is good for kennedy is good for all of us, my husband really doesn't give much thought to it, and he'll buy the other kids the 32 oz icee for them to suck down in ront of kennedy which makes me livid.... I feel up to the challenge, I'm a medical person so it's my nature, but my perfectionism is not agreeing with diabetes very well, I think...

great to hear from you. how old were you when you were diagnosed? Love to hear from more kids here...or former kids, should I say?

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Permalink Reply by NatalieHodge on April 10, 2012 at 8:10pm

kennedy also has celiac, diagnosed three months after the diabetes, that's not so big a deal, ( easy for me to say, I can still eat bread) but she's been fine since off the gluten, she knows how to navigate a gluten free menu, and use her apps to find a gluten free friendly restaurant...

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Permalink Reply by Brian Wittman on April 14, 2012 at 9:24pm

I have little doubt that the next time this Family boards the Mini-van, Suburban or Volvo, take your pick, to visit places unknown, you will be far better equipped to handle the needs the diabetic one in the group, and still see that the rest of the family's need are provided without much disruption. there are a lot of issues that have come to light through this discussion: that of exercise changes, food changes, responsibilities taken, assumed and volunteered, feelings of others in the realm of the ever-changing surroundings and so on. There have been some very insightful posts and responses throughout this discussion.

Throughout this discussion what speaks to me most is the necessity to keep this family together. someone mentioned that the child with the special need can often be a deal breaker in a relationship. This is a very true statement, but in reality, it doesn't have to be that way. I hope and pray that there will become a shared responsibility in the care of the diabetic child, so that being as normal as possible is the norm of the family. This is a very realistic an doable goal. Lets hope and pray that this family, whomever they are, will learn from this situation and become stronger in doing so. Sometimes, it is good to be diabetic.

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Permalink Reply by Jacob's mom on April 15, 2012 at 7:14am

Hey brian, you seem like a very kind and empathic man, we need all we can get of that! however you may catch a little flack for that last statement, better said maybe adversity makes us stronger and more empathic people if we can accept what ever hardships comes our way and we move forward, good to be diabetic, i would still so rather my boy was not diabetic as would natalie and her daughter, i am sure! god bless and best wishes! amy

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on April 15, 2012 at 7:32am

I'm the "deal breaker" because I have become "the bad cop", nothing to do w/ diabetes...

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Permalink Reply by Brian Wittman on April 15, 2012 at 12:17pm

Good cop, bad cop, but when you need a cop there is never a cop around and when you don't want to see a cop, a cop is near. It they are a good cop that is okay, but a bad cop will make you wish there was no cop, and no cop makes you wish there was a cop.

In order to be the deal breaker, one must also be a deal broker.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Wittman on April 15, 2012 at 12:12pm

Hi Amy,

Thank you for the flowers. You have wordsmithed my statement pretty well. Adversity does make us stronger, and I am glad of it. Yes, I would wish that your son, and Natalie's daughter, and my dear friend Allison, and my cousins and a fellow singer did not have diabetes. Better yet, if the disease didn't exist, all of us here would be better off.

One fact remains. Diabetes has made me a better person. It has also made me a different person. Each day, a decision must be made to make the best of what I have, however much or little that is. My message to you, and to Natalie and her family, is not to blame or curse or loath the disease, but rather to use it as a tool to make each one of us better than we were yesterday. If it isn't better in a physical sense, then better in a character sense. Personally, I thank diabetes for all of this. Sometimes, it's good to be diabetic.

Be well.

Brian Wittman

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Permalink Reply by Jacob's mom on April 15, 2012 at 4:45pm

now brian if you could only convince my self concious, usuually wonderful but sometimes brooding and gloom and doom son about all this i would be forever indebted to you, with age comes wisdom, i guess i won't rush away his innocence. most moments he is just jacob, not diabetic jacob so i am happy for all he is and all he will be despite his diabetes. and in the end i do heartily agree he will have more depth, compassion and coping skills than average thanks for your thoughts amy

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