Houston . . . We have a Problem!: March 2012

10:51 PM

noun

an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world thatsurpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribedto a supernatural cause.

such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a workof God.

a wonder; marvel.

a wonderful or surpassing example of some quality: a miracleof modern acoustics.

Meri and Ryan have set aside tomorrow, Sunday, as a day of fasting and prayer, and they have asked others to join them in asking for a miracle for Ryan.

________________________________________________________________

I enjoy learning about different religions, cultures and beliefs and am very open to the things that I learn. My beliefs may differ from yours. Your prayers may differ from mine. That's ok, sweet friends. Whatever your beliefs, whatever your religion, whatever your culture let's lift the Schuhmacher family up and specifically request a miracle for Ryan. It doesn't matter if you pray it, chant it, or sing it. If prayer isn't your thing send good and healing vibes. Whatever you believe --- whatever you are comfortable with doing, please do it.

This sweet family needs a miracle.

_________________________________________________________________

To follow Ryan's progress and lend support to the family, please visit their "Schuhmacher Family's Miracle" Facebook page here.

Besides the Facebook page, a fund has been established to help with the family’s inevitable expenses. Please consider giving. No amount is too small, and all donations will be deeply appreciated. If you can help in any way, please visit the GiveForward site. Thank you!

________________________________________________________________________

This post is incredibly hard for me to write. I rarely struggle when writing for my own blog about my own family and my own emotions. Tonight as I sit here I just cannot find the right words to convey to you how important this is to me. Meri has not only been there for me but for the entire diabetes community. She is an amazing woman, friend, sister, wife, and mother ---- she is truly one of a kind! Please do not confuse my lack of emotion as me not caring enough to compose a moving post. It's not that at all. It is just the opposite. I am so incredibly overwhelmed with emotion that I just cannot find the words.

Please, please, with everything you have inside . . . ask for a miracle for this family. Share this with your church, synagogue, prayer group, bible study, Sunday school class, friends and acquaintances. Please spread the word about the Schuhmacher Family Miracle request.

Keep Calm and Pray for a Miracle . . . .

There is always HOPE

9:59 PM

Today is Nate's 2-year anniversary pumping with OmniPod. I love the fact that Nate started pumping on National Day of Hope!! That is no coincidence, my friends!

After Nate's diagnosis I was in a sad, dark, and confusing place. I felt hopeless. There's no sugar coating it at all here on HWHAP --- I hated diabetes. I hated that Nate had diabetes. I hated that my life was turned upside down. I pretty much hated everything. I was sad and angry. I was HOPELESS.

I'm not going to tell you that the day Nate started pumping everything became ok but it sure as hell helped! I hated life on MDI (Multiple Daily Injections) and OmniPod did give us our freedom back. It has taken 2 years of podding and 2.5 years living with diabetes to say this but there is HOPE back in my life.

Diabetes is something that we live with daily --- it's always there and until there is a cure it will never go away. It's there on Christmas, birthdays, Easter and on vacations. It rears its ugly head at the most inopportune times but it is just part of our life now.

I no longer hate diabetes, I no longer cry at the drop of a hat and I want you to know that although it is different for everyone . . . for me it's taken all this time to be ok. For some people it takes much less time and for others it takes much more time. But today I can proudly say that I am ok. I still want a cure and I still HOPE for one in my lifetime but I don't sit around thinking about it all day ---- we are far too busy living our crazy life.

In July of 2010 I wrote the post --- Why I Still Cry which continues to be one of my most read posts on this blog. I was sad. Read it --- you'll see. I just read it and although this post is about how I don't cry anymore going back to that day in my mind made me tear up. It's ok to cry and it's ok to be sad but believe me at some point it gets better. It doesn't really get easier ---- you get better and things do seem easier.

I still check Nate's blood sugar 10-15 times per day.
I still infuse insulin in his body to keep him alive.
I still don't sleep at night.
I still count carbs and weigh food.

The difference is now I make time for me. I ask for help. I let people know when I need a break.
I allow myself to cry if I need to but then I pick up and move on. It feels good not be be sad and angry anymore.

So, in closing I hope that today on this day of HOPE that by reading through my journey you know that even on the darkest diabetes day there really is light at the end of the tunnel. I can't tell you when you will reach it but I can assure you, sweet friends that it is there. Just because I am no longer in that dark place does not in any way mean that I don't remember those days. I do --- I always will.

I am here for those that are there now, on their way out and finally finding reasons to have HOPE again. XOXO