A Helper

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Fred Rogers

Strange, isn't it? Each person's life touches so many other lives. When they aren't around they leaves an awful hole, doesn't they?  Clarence The Angel - It’s A Wonderful Life~

#######

The Diabetes Online Community is filled with so many amazing people.

Some are known to many, some are known to a few and some never leave a comment but are an integral part of our community none the less. We are a community of helpers and doers and we rely on one another in good times and bad.

As our community grows, sometimes it becomes harder to keep up with everyone who makes up the DOC - And sometimes life gets in the way of being as active and in touch with our community as we like, but we always try and we always find ways to help and it's in the helping that we find our way back. 

I didn’t know D-Mama Blogger Shamae Gneiting Lyon very well - Except for reading her Crazy-Happy-Life blog, a few funny email exchanges between us and the lovely and from-the-heart comments she left on my blog  - And were much appreciated. 

I do know that Shamae was a HELPER in every sense of the word & in the way Mr. Rodgers described - She helped so many dealing with something so scary, their child's type 1 diabetes diagnoses and part of the way she helped was to lead them to the Diabetes Online Community.

She was a Helper in the form of a D Blogger in the early days of the DOC - A great mom to her 3 children, (including her t1 daughter,) and a beacon for many parents of newly and not so newly diagnosed children with Diabetes. 

I know she inspired and helped so many D parents and directed them to the Diabetes Online Community - And many of those that she helped became bloggers and active members of the DOC. 

Shamae passed away in her sleep and I know that her presence and strength will be missed by her family and so many D-Mamas who I consider my friends and whose hearts are hurting because of her passing. 

I urge you to read Shamae's words and to learn from them - And to pray for her husband, 3 children and extended family and friends who are and will continue to feel her loss. 

And to those of you who have a memory or lesson that Shamae taught you, pay the help forward and reach out her family and share your memory/memories with them.