My Girl, My Hero

Diabetes Hero -DBlog Week - Day 7

Let’s end our week on a high note and blog about our “Diabetes Hero”. It can be anyone you’d like to recognize or admire, someone you know personally or not, someone with diabetes or maybe a Type 3. It might be a fabulous endo or CDE. It could be a d-celebrity or role-model. It could be another DOC member. It’s up to you – who is your Diabetes Hero?? 

Click for the Diabetes Hero- Sunday 5/20 Link List.

She is smart.  She is strong.  She is beautiful. 

She has Type 1 Diabetes.  She is my first born. 

She is my HERO!

Ally was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at 5 years old.  At that age, you don't fully understand what is happening.  (Not that I did either!)  She heard the nurse in the pediatrician's office say that she had "diabetes" and that we needed to go straight to the hospital.  She sat quietly in the car as we drove to the hospital - with a somber face, but without any tears.  She did not let me know that she was scared.  

(Meanwhile, my brain was racing...Where is Keith working today?  Who can I call to pick Jessi up from pre-school?)  She tried to keep a conversation going with me.  "Mom, Uncle Bill is in heaven right?"  Yes, he is honey.  (Brain still racing...Don't cry.  Don't cry.  Which stupid exit am I supposed to take to Children's Hospital?)  "Mom, do you think Uncle Bill was scared when he became an angel?"  Well, I'm sure that Jesus was there to help him to not be scared.  (Brain racing...Why is she asking so many questions about Uncle Bill?  Should I call her rheumatologist?  Call my mom, she can pick up Jessi.)  "Ok, Mom."  and she was quiet.  She never cried, never complained.  We went on to spend the next 4 days in ICU.

Months later, Ally told me that when she heard the nurse say that she had "die-a-betes", she thought that meant she was going to die.  My brain instantly went back to the conversation in the car on the way to the hospital about my uncle who had recently passed away.  I asked her why she didn't tell me that she had thought that!  She said,

"I didn't want you to be scared."

Ally is my hero for so many reasons.  But her character is my #1!