Yesterday morning I logged on to my computer late, and was met with the news that a 13-year-old girl with diabetes named Eilish lost her life because of diabetes and Dead In Bed Syndrome.
She left behind her parents and her sister and I my heart ached for them.
Another person lost to diabetes, another set of parents who will live with their grief daily, and another child who lost her sibling and part of childhood because of diabetes related death.
I spent a lot time crying yesterday for a girl and her family I’d never met.
I cried for the 13-year-old girl who never woke from her low and like you, I'm so angry at diabetes that I can't even begin to put it into words right now.
I cried for her parents who are going through something that no parent should ever have to go through and I cried for my parents who experienced that same pain.
I cried for her sister Ella who is now an only child – and I wanted to reach out through the internet and over the thousands of miles that separate us and hold her tight and protect her from what’s happening and turn back the clock and make this nightmare that they’re all trapped in go away.
I don’t want her to be alone, I don’t want her to be scared or feel guilty, or worry, and walk on eggshells because she’s afraid of making her parents even more sad because I know that’s how she’s feeling.
I want to tell her there will be days that will be unbearable and moments that just one happy memory of her sister will literally get her through the day.
I want a cure because I never want another child or adult to die from diabetes - and I never want another child to be left behind because someone she loved died from diabetes.
Since posting the above this morning, I have decided to participate this Sunday in the JDRF's Walk To Cure Diabetes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I will be walking in memory of those who can't. Including: Eilish, Debbie, Cynthia, Jessie, & Trent. If you'd liked to donate towards my fundraising goal, CLICK HERE.
I hear you there Kelly. I was the same yesterday (and I am so sorry for forgetting about the minute silence on Tweet at #dsma - many folks did not know about this - so we just rambled on without realising).
ReplyDeleteI know you lost your sister to diabetes when she was young, so this must be a double whammy for you - just as it is for many of us - without having gone thru' what you and your family has gone thru.
After reading the DIB article - http://www.diabetesmonitor.com/learning-center/other-complications/dead-in-bed-syndrome.htm - it's made me realise "Did my Mum really understand what my diabetes was all about?". She has told me that she knew it was a bad disease, but she just coped, in those days, she had no support like what we all have. I know I went thru' some scary times at night time (monsters chasing me) - memories that probably as D children - we all push way back into the back of our minds. Since discovering online diabetic communites, little things I pushed away, are coming out and I'm not sure I like them coming out of the wood work sometimes.
Yes, let's hope a cure is one day found for diabetes and other diseases out there on our big blue marble. No one should have to go thru' this - not even our worst enemies!!!
I'm still writing my post for this, and it's hard not to inject too much venom into it...because I AM angry. I don't know the whole story, but I know the heartbreaking ending. My thoughts and heart goes out to Eilish's family. Like her family, I have so many questions and not enough answers. I will find my words, but right now they just aren't suitable for print.
ReplyDeleteright on.
ReplyDeletebeautifully written - I spent a good part of yesterday crying too. Now I'm at it again. Such a loss.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this beautiful tribute. My heart also can't help but to hold Ella in a special place.
ReplyDeleteThis is tragic. As the mother raising a CWD, it's a nightmare that has become reality....knowing there's another D Mama grieving the loss of her child....a broken hearted father....a lost sister left behind....there's just so much emotion wrapped up in all of it.
I pray for the diabetes community everyday ... and I hope these horrible incidents unite us to make the resolve stronger to continue advocating and educating...until the entire world is full of blue circles.
Well stated. As always Kelly. We've been so surrounded by this today. It's been hard, for all of us I think. I'm forming my post now. Like so many others, I'll blog today for Eilish.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and I'm so happy to hear that you are walking for the people that can no longer. You are the second person that I know that was not going to walk and has now decided to walk after the awful news.
ReplyDeleteI'm just so sad for that family and for everyone who has lost someone close to them from this disease!!
Well said, Kelly. I don't want another child - another person - to die from this disease. I have cried many tears, too. For a family I don't know. For others who know this pain all too well. And for those of us left behind to keep fighting. Thank you for walking.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a loss. So big. So sad.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are coming to the walk. We walk for our kids and the ones we have lost.
My heart breaks reading we've lost another, and a whole array of emotions are hitting us all. Can't imagine what they or you go through on this... But we keep advocating and educating to help make this invisible illness more visible.
ReplyDeleteI cried a lot of tears too, the past couple days. And held on to my girls a little tighter.
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful you are walking for those who can't. Thank you.
Well said Kelly.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Kelly. (( hugs )) from here.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to Eilish and her family, as a parent, I cannot imagine loosing my son under any circumstance,This tragedy hammers home the reality that this is a life threatening disease.
ReplyDeleteMoving, Kelly. I find it so hard to write about things like this.
ReplyDeleteMy approach today was to focus on advocacy stuff -- the best we can do??
http://www.diabetesmine.com/2010/10/diabetes-the-possibilities.html
Yours,
AmyT
What a beautiful tribute and gesture... Thank you for writing it. My prayers go out to them and their family!!! We need to stop this disease...
ReplyDeletewith love from Irene, www.mommywhatisdiabetes.com