Shine On, Judy Reich

The DOC received the news late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning that we’d lost our friend Judy Reich, 

It’s hit many hard - me included. I’m a mess.

I am devastated over Judy’s passing - every time I tried to put something into words I burst into tears.

This one's for you, Judy~ 

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Dear Judy - 

I found out the news just as I was getting ready to go bed late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning. 

It was weird - I’d just said out loud to myself, “today was better than yesterday,” and I looked at my facebook feed one last time - then it wasn’t. 

A mutual friend’s facebook status announced your passing along with a link to 8 News Now's video tribute. 

I yelled "NO" at my phone, clicked on the link and burst into tears and I couldn’t stop crying. 

I was up for hours, crying and talking online with our friends, trying to piece together the how and they whys, and trying to make sense of it, trying to find out what happened. 

And I’m still crying - and the tears keep falling.

Judy - you were a kind; funny, talented, beautiful, and phenomenal woman, I was so lucky to call you my friend, and I’m really going to miss you.

We met online first - and I’ll admit to being a little bit reserved at first, but then we met in real life at the very first UnConference - and you were so full of love and light, I was like: WOW, THIS WOMAN IS AMAZING. 

We bonded over our love of entertaining; theater, being the caretaker for our parents, my struggle to get over the loss of my mother, and both of us being maternal women with diabetes who weren’t mothers. 

That last part was big - it connected it us - and other women (and some men,) in DOC who needed feel that we not only existed - that we mattered. 

And Judy, you were a mother - you mothered and mentored so many whose lives were touched by your sparkled and joy.  

Always kind and filled with love, always making sure your friends were doing OK.

These past few days I’ve read beautiful facebook statuses and blog posts that are true testaments and tributes to the woman you were and the impact you had. 

Judy, you made a world of difference - you helped and encouraged - and you showed that 50 years living with diabetes could be done with style; grace, humor tenacity, a bit of bawdy, and boatloads of showwomanship! 

Your instant messages always seemed to flash across my screen just when I needed them most. When I was struggling; when I was feeling down or lonely - intuitively you knew it - and you started a conversation that would always make me laugh and feel inspired. 

The last time we chatted was after the holidays -both of us were short for time - it was a quick check-in with a promise to “catch-up soon, and a mutual hope that a real life meet up in 2018 was in the cards.“ 

We never got that chance and that is another reason I grieve. 

I'm sad and mad that we won't get the chance to hangout again in real life. 

Judy, thank you for being my friend and for always making me smile. 

Shine bright and shine on, because you truly are a star!

I will never forget you and will miss you always.   

Xoxo

Kelly

And to my Diabetes Online Community Family - No matter the diabetes type and in memory of Judy, I’m asking that you schedule an appointment with a cardiologist. 

I don’t have the all the specifics, but I do know that Judy’s death was cardiac related.

February is Heart Month - diabetes and heart issues go hand-in-hand - no matter what type of diabetes you live with, because diabetes and heart disease isn't just a type 2 issue.

PLEASE schedule up an appointment with a cardiologist and get checked out. 

Do it for yourself, for your family, and do it for Judy.

If want to send Judy's husband Gary and her mom Arlene Reich condolences, 

send your cards to the Diabetes Sisters offices by the end of February - they will be forwarding them in bulk to the family. 

DiabetesSisters, 

319 N Weber Road, pmb 163, 

Bolingbrook, IL 60490

My Take On The Diabetes UnConference

Big thanks to Christel for turning advocacy into action and making The Diabetes UnConference into reality!
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The 2015 Diabetes UnConference attendees~

It’s taken me a while to wrap my head around The Diabetes UnConference and write a post for many reasons. 

1. It was emotional in all dimensions - And for some reason, it’s really hard to articulate those emotions
2. I wanted to make sure not to divulge anything remotely private because we as a group/collective (see what I did there,) decided that there would be a Social Media blackout/moratorium so that the people attending had a place to share their most private diabetes thoughts and fears 
3. There are so many wonderful posts have already been written on the subject, what could I say on the subject that hasn’t already been said?  

But every experience/voice matters - So, here's my post.  

The Diabetes UnConference was a weekend filled with rapid fire discussions on topics and emotions that all of us have have when it comes to living with diabetes.
The agenda was created by every PWD in the room and the list of topics stretched out across the wall - I kid you not. 
I tried taking notes, but early on I put my pen down and focused on listening to who was speaking and what what being shared, while observing the amazing that was happening all around me. 
 I met people who had lived with diabetes for over 50 years and I met people who had lived with diabetes for only a few months - and folks who ran the gambit in-between and I learned from every single person in the room.
FTR: I even wore my Lilly 25 year medal for the first time ever, during the sessions because if I was going to wear my diabetes bling anywhere, it was going to be in a room filled with PWDs!
And there was a hell of a lot to learn, because collectively, our group had damn near 2000 years of diabetes experience. 
Things bubbled up and came to the surface and we were able to share; listen, learn and support one another in a safe and protective environment. 
I observed people who had never been in a room with another PWD before find their tribe and their voices. 
I was able to meet people in real life that have had my back online for years and who I already considered friends. But to meet life, to hug and to hold them, to laugh with them -THAT WAS AMAZING.  
More amazing, watching friendships form and diabetes confidence bloom exponentially. 
I wish I'd had the chance to talk with everyone - but it seems that each and every conversation I had was so engaging that there wasn’t enough time! 
(Special shout out to those folks I've had some really heartfelt conversations with since the conference!) 

And every once in a while, my mind who travel back to the 2014 Medtronic Diabetes Advocate Forum, where I literally saw the light bulb go off over Christel’s head, or maybe the light bulb went off earlier, but it was the first time I saw it glimmer.   
Anyway, I was sitting in the row directly behind Christel during a discussion about peer support - and I’m totally paraphrasing here, but Christel said something like: We need to have conference for people with diabetes, and then quietly she said - An UnConference. 
And now there I was, sitting in and being part of, the first inaugural Diabetes UnConference - watching people with diabetes engage, learn, share and support one another - and my eyes started to leak, but in a really wonderful way. 
Because I had witnessed advocacy into action and was watching strangers become allies and friends and I was participating in it - talk about overwhelming!
I cried on the plane ride home - And like many others who attended the conference, I blamed the “vegas dust™,”Mike Barry. 

Here’s the thing: I keep the Vegas dust close to my heart and every once in a while, I take it out and sprinkle it like a diabetes Tinkerbell and her fairy dust when I need to feel all warm and fuzzy and to reminded myself of what went down at The Flamingo Hotel not so long ago. 
Bottom line and without giving anything away, the Diabetes UnConference was a place were people with diabetes and regardless of the type, found support in one another. 

Where everyone in the room spoke the language of diabetes fluently and with understanding - And regardless of the dialect.
And I want our dialogues to continue and I want to create/ be a part of new discussions in the process. 

This Trip, A Philly TSA Agent Made Traveling With Diabetes Way LESS Stressful!

Traveling with diabetes can be a challenge, incredibly frustrating and down right maddening. And when crap happens, I write about it. 
So when good stuff happens when it comes to traveling and diabetes, I write about that stuff, too. 
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So last week I had like the nicest experience, EVER with TSA at Philadelphia International Airport and en route to the Diabetes UnConference in Vegas ( post on that amazing experience to follow,) and I wanted to share it.  

As I waited in the security line with a large bottle of water in hand and my electronic pancreas clipped to my hip, I looked around and asked the closest TSA Agent near me for a visual inspection for my insulin pump. 

The Agent, a 20 something African American woman with a reassuring smile and a kind voice told me "no problem" re: a visual inspection of my pump & told me that my water bottle qualified for a visual inspection, too.

She also looked me straight in the eye, placed her hand on my shoulder and said: NEVER take 'no' for an answer re: a visual inspection for your insulin pump or your water! 

It’s your right to have both visually inspected, don’t ever let anyone ever tell you different - don’t  ever let them tell you no! 

She was incredibly kind, understanding, knowledgeable and professional and I really appreciated that she had my back. 

I wanted to give her a huge because she made me feel like a had a diabetes ally on my side, because I did and she most certainly was.
Nine times out of ten when it comes to TSA and a visual inspection, I end up having to fight for one. I’m told I don’t need it and that It’s a lot of unnecessary work  - but I still fight for it until I get one.

 And it was SUCH a different experience than THIS HORRIBLE  moment at Philadelphia International, or THIS MEETING OF THE MINDS at the airport in San Diego. The fact that I didn’t have to fight, explain the reasons why and could breathe a sigh of relief made the whole airport/flying with diabetes and dealing with TSA, more pleasant. 

Look, I’ll be the first to write about traveling with diabetes and TSA snafus, but I also want to point out the spot-on and outstanding experiences with TSA Agents who make it a point to walk the walk, know the intricacies of their job & do an outstanding job. 

YOU ROCK and great job, AWESOME TSA AGENT - And much love and appreciation & a big THANK-YOU from the bottom of my busted pancreas! 

Screw You, Snow: Things I’m looking forward to in the next two weeks~

The weather is craptastical,  it’s bumming me out, driving me crazy and I've developed a wicked case of cabin fever! And of course, the weather report predicts anywhere between 5 and 10 inches (of snow, sickos - get your minds out of the gutter. Also: that's what she said,) in the next two days.  

So for this post, I'm focusing on what I’m looking forward to in the next 14 days to get me through the snow.  

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Daffodils: I need my daffodil fix. Daffodils remind me of spring and my mother and daffodils are resilient. They poke through the snow and show us that nothing is impossible. Daffodils are my favorite - Daffodils personify hope and make me hopeful.

Spring: I’m looking forward to spring and sunshine and seasonal warm weather - I don’t need 80 degrees in March, temps in the high 40s with lots of sunshine and not snowflake in sight would be downright dreamy. 

Tonight's #DSMA chat at 9PM, EST on the twitter. 

One of hour of chatting with PWDs (people with diabetes) about anything and everything!

It's entertaining, fun, and it will get you through your week! 

Log on to twitter tonight & follow the #DSMA hasthag & the moderator, @DiabetesSocMed! 

JDRF Greater Chesapeake & Potomac Chapter’s TypeOneNation Research Summit -Saturday, March 7th in Bethesda, Maryland. 

I’m looking forward to learning about the latest and greatest re: diabetes technology, listening to speakers like Gary Scheiner & Dr. William Tamborlane - Just to name a few of many awesome.  I'm also looking forward to participating in the workshops and facilitating a few. 
Click HERE to learn more about the Summit, then click HERE and sign up to attend!!

The Diabetes Unconference, next weekend (March 13-15) in Las Vegas. 

I’m so freaking excited to attend The Diabetes Unconference - Excited to be surrounded by others “who get it," and who speak the language of diabetes in all dialects. 

Being surrounded by other adults with diabetes and regardless of the type - Being part of my amazing D tribe.  

Viva PWDs!! 

Proud Auntie Alert: 

I’m so incredibly proud of my niece, Tess McChesney Kunik for creating the amazing film, Reasons I Want To Recover. The film stars a collective of "artists spreading awareness about eating disorders and disordered eating patterns through dance, sound, poetry, paint, and bravery,”including my Tess.  SO PROUD  of my brave and talented Tess McChesney Kunik! Please click HERE and watch her outstanding film! 

I’m also looking forward to watching The Mindy Project on March 17th, because my other talented niece,  Cristin Milioti is guest starring! So stoked & proud! Read all about it, HERE.

What are you guys looking forward to in the next few weeks? 

Share if want, or don't. But make sure to focus on the good to get you through the mucky weather! 

24 Hours Left To Apply For The 2015 Diabetes UnConference Scholarships!

FYI: Early Bird registration for The Diabetes UnConference is $139 until October 15th, at which time the cost to register will be $159
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I can't wait to attend The Diabetes UnConference at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas on Friday March 13th and ending Sunday March 15th at 1pm. I CAN'T WAIT. 

And I could wax poetic about so many things. 

Like how fantastical Christel Marchand Aprigliano is for creating a conference for all adults living with diabetes and regardless of the type, and how amazing it will be to participate and receive all the love, support and understanding from and by a clan of people who "get it."And how speaking of "getting it," The Diabetes UnConference is run by people with diabetes for people with diabetes. 

I could talk for hours about how diabetes is 24X7, with no time of for vacations or good behavior and how the UnConference will give every PWD in attendance the opportunity to talk about their diabetes fears and triumphs and learn a few things in the process - in a protective shell and supportive setting. 

And how for many, The Diabetes UnConference will be the first time in their existence with diabetes that they'll be able to to receive and give D support in real time and face to face - And I know first hand how transformative and life changing that will be.  

I know for a fact that magic will happen at The Diabetes UnConference and I can't wait!

I'll write another more detailed post about the UnConference in the next month, but right now I want to remind you about the scholarship deadlines for the "UnConference. "
Yep, you can apply for several scholarships for The Diabetes Unconference, which is AWESOME. 
But the scholarship deadline is literally just around the corner, as in you have until midnight tomorrow, September 30th to apply for said scholarships. 
And in order to apply, you have to actually be registered. Lucky for us, registering takes a few short strokes of the keyboard. Do that by clicking,  HERE.
Hotel and travel info for the UnConference is located, HERE.

After you register, click on the following link and apply for the scholarships!
http://diabetesunconference.com/scholarships-for-the-diabetes-unconference-2015/

Good luck and see you in March!