Ninja Support - Day 3
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 9:08AM
Day 3 -– Your Biggest Supporter. Sure, our diabetes care is ultimately up to us and us alone. But it’s important to have someone around to encourage you, cheer you, and even help you when you need it. Today it’s time to gush and brag about your biggest supporter. Is it your spouse or significant other? Your best friend, sibling, parent or child? Maybe it’s your endo or a great CDE? Or perhaps it’s another member of the D-OC who is always there for you? Go ahead, tell them just how much they mean to you!
This week is easy.
My wife Jasmine, my son George, and my daughter Gillian are my biggest supporters, without a doubt.
If it’s picking up prescriptions, grabbing my machine, or knowing what to do when I am low my family is on it.
There have been times I am running late (like always) and I can shout, “Gillian can you please get my stuff together for a site change?” Never an attitude. Never a huff or a puff. Just, “Okay Dad.”
Sure enough when I am running out the door she had my infusion set, reservoir, insulin, IV Prep, and my Quick-Serter all ready to go.
George is infamous for saying, “Dad, your pump” alerting me to the blaring alarm in my pocket. I miss that high alarm all the time and George can let me know when he is a mile away. Plus both him and his sister have gotten me stuff for a low a countless number of times.
My wife has saved my life so many times I cannot even count. Times I am lying in bed shaky, sweating, not knowing what was happening or what to do and yet she is on it. She feels the covers get kicked off onto her side and instantly knows I am low (since I am always cold). She will get up and stay up with me until my low is gone and even prepare those scrumptious Eggo’s for me long before the sun comes up.
The thing I hate about their support is how diabetes ends up affecting them.
All I will want to do is shoot some hoops with my kids and no sooner do we start really playing that my sugar drops and I have to stop. My kids will get me tabs and the whole time I am apologizing for ruining the fun and they reassure me that it is okay. “Don’t worry dad,” they tell me but I do. I worry that I am taking so much away from them. I worry that they have to worry too much. Because of something none of us ask for our supporters suffer. At least in my eyes they do.
Jasmine is beyond any support I could imagine. How’s this for an example. When we went to my pump class, before I was pumping to see what it was all about, Jasmine was the only non-D in the room that was willing to put on a Saline pump with the rest of the diabetics. She got major cheers from all the PWD’s in the room that day!
I think about when I was in ICU fighting DKA and Jasmine wondering if this was it. If I was going to make it. If my fear of leaving them early was going to come true. If that fear that she never shows but I know is there was happening. It kills me to think what went through her mind. All of our plans for the future would have been dreams lost.
I say all these things about how I wish my family did not have to deal with this stuff but you know what, they don’t care. They love me and would do anything for me. Just as I would for any of them. We do not choose what challenges we have in life, we can only decide to let them tear us down or make us strong for standing up to them. Without my family I would probably be torn down but with them, and only with them can I find the strength to continue you on.
Take that diabetes.
Reader Comments (18)
Awesome post dude. And a big thanks to Jasmine, George and Gillian for taking care of my friend SuperG!
You are a lucky, lucky man. Not all of us have this kind of support. I wish I had a fraction of it. Denial is very big in my family and I find I have to take care of myself to survive. So far, so good. ;)
Your family is seriously awesome, George. And I can say that without having ever met them. :) Team Simmons rocks the house!!!
Thanks George for sharing this. You are the best and you have no idea how much I needed this post today.
Beautiful post! It brought tears to my eyes. I have a 3 year old son with type 1 and as his parent, I would do anything for him without giving it a second thought so I fully understand where your family is coming from.
I LOVE and am so thankful for your family, and I LOVE and am so thankful for you !
LYLB
kelly k
You're a lucky Ninja, that's for sure.
And - they're lucky to have you, D and all!
So good to hear George. We are fortunate to be surrounded by family who just get it. There are so many who don't share in our luck.
Oh my gosh - look at those smiles! Gorgeous! I'm so glad to meet them and hear more about them. Such an amazing group you have. And woot, woot - yay Jasmine for inserting the pump! You both must have been so proud!!
"Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten."
God bless you and your beautiful ohana.
What a beautiful post!! Sounds like a wonderful and loving family!
Families are awesome! Thanks for sharing yours, G!
Our family is awesome. :-)
Your family truly shares in the experience, for better or for worse, from what I have read the past few years and seen in your vlogs and photos. That counts for something...big...in dealing with it all.
G I love your family! They are awesome! God has truly blessed you!
George
Spoken like a true diabetic family man. It is hard to find selfless support like that. cherish it. I know you do.
Congrats on such a wonderful family
OMGosh! I feel the same way. Like, I am taking something away from my daughter. When we really aren't. Maybe we have given them something. My lot in life has made Amanda a kind hearted, caring, & loving person. Not many kids are like that these days. I'm more than certain your kids are exactly the same way. :)
I'm so glad you have such a wonderful family. As for the lonely part, maybe we do that to ourselves. Sigh.
George, your family is completely awesome. And I'm sure they do what they do for you out of love - and that is why it's never a burden. Just as you would do it for them and never complain. I'm so glad you all have each other!!