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Sunday, May 20, 2012

Day 7 of Diabetes Blog Week: My Diabetes Hero


It's Day 7 of Diabetes Blog Week - And it's all about Heroes - As in: Who is my Diabetes Hero.
And it doesn't matter if that Hero is a type1, type 1.5, type2 or type 3.
My Diabetes Hero was my mom - Even though her pancreas worked fine until a few years ago. 
She never gave up, she always had a smile and a kind word and she could kick major ass when she needed to. 
My mother was a resilient woman whose sparkle could be seen from a mile away.
And my mother  always picked herself up  by her bootstraps and plowed ahead no matter what obstacles life tossed in her way - And she expected each of her children to do the same. 
My mom had 6 children, and three of those children had type 1 - And one of them passed away from type 1. 
She also had a husband with type 1 diabetes.
And my mother persevered. She kept moving and kept going and she NEVER gave up. 
And she never let her children with diabetes use diabetes as a crutch or an excuse - It was a part of life and we had to face it head on. 
And that attitude was one of the greatest gifts my mother ever gave me.
My mom had a heart that was filled with love and laughter.
But unbeknownst to us, she had a damaged heart from having scarlet fever as a baby - but no one realized it was damaged until she was in her 60s.
She was all "damn the torpedos" and damn them she did.
She was an athlete, a mother, a caregiver and an amazing woman. 
Here's the thing: my mom's heart was only working at 25% for the past four or five years, but my mom never told any of us that, and Girlfriend did more with a heart at 25% then most people did with a heart working at 100%.
She made her heart adapt and work for her. 
She never let it stop her from living or laughing or loving and she not only had a blast - she had a social life that would make most of us jealous!
And in the end it wasn't her 25% heart that did her in.

I miss my mom a lot  - But I was quite a lucky chicklet to have her for as long as I did. 
She's the reason I see the glass half full and she's the reason I keep on trucking. 
She's the reason I am tough and sweet all rolled into one and she's the person who inspires me every single day - Both in my life - And my life with diabetes - And even though she's no longer here. 

CHEERS Mommy!
Pink Hat, Red Hat.
Mom & I about 3 months before I was diagnosed

6 comments:

  1. When I hear you talk about your Mom I always wish I could have known her! Her strength, outlook and resilience shines through YOU. True hero indeed, both your mother for you and your family....and YOU for the DOC? Love you Kelly!

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  2. Wonderful post, Kelly! Thanks for sharing this about your mom.

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  3. Thank-you so much for sharing this Kelly - she sounded like an incredible person and a true Diabetes hero x

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  4. Beautiful tribute to your mother, Kelly. She truly sounds like a wonderful, strong woman. She lives on through your posts and memories. Thanks for sharing her with us.

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  5. this made me smile so much! beautiful! :)

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