DSMA Parents Talk & Glucagon App

Have you been tuning in to DSMA Live Parents Talk on BlogTalkRadio ?  If not, you should.  Lorraine from This is Caleb and Bennet from Your Diabetes May Vary are hosting the show every other Monday at 9PM EST.  For more information visit http://dsmalive.com/. 

While listening to the show last night, I learned that there is a FREE Lilly Glucagon App for iphone, ipad, ipod, etc. 

 

 

We all hope that we will never need to use the glucagon.  However, reality is that we might.  I downloaded this app today and have been playing around with it.  I think its great!

 

 

It is a good refresher for those of us who were trained back in the hospital at diagnosis years ago, but thankfully have never had to use it.  It is also a great tool for training family members, childcare personnel, friends and school staff members.

 

The app has a Tutorial to watch and also a practice section. In Practice Injection Steps, you interactively go through each step. When you finish the practice steps, it asks you if you would like a reminder to practice these steps again in 3 months. How cool is that?

 

 

But wait, there is more!  It also has a Manage My Kits section, where you can enter the location and expiration dates of each of your glucagon kits.  And yep, you can set reminders here too so that you will be notified when one of your kits is expiring. 

 

 

 

Along with these cool features, the app also contains basic glucagon information, emergency instructions, and safety information.  I have already shared the link to this app with our school nurse and my familly members.  It should be a really helpful training tool.  Thanks Lilly!  And Thanks to DSMA Live Parents Talk for sharing this great tool!

 I encourage you to tune in to DSMA Live Parents Talk on Monday, September 24 at 9PM EST.  Hallie from The Princess and The Pump will be the guest!  Can't wait!

It Takes an Army

If you read my blog, I'm sure that you know my friend Meri who blogs at Our Diabetic Life.  She is a beautiful person, with a beautiful family, fighting her husband's cancer with everything they have.  Please read her update below and consider joining us in prayer this Sunday.  We need an army!

 

Dear Friends,

We received the news last week that our most recent brain scan shows a new army of tumors.   Ryan no longer qualifies for radiation, or any trials.   We will begin our last med option tomorrow morning.   Urvoy is a medication given once every three weeks for 12 weeks.   The medicine works on a small number of patients and takes a good 5 to 6 weeks to make any improvement.   As things are progressing fast and furious, that is a very scary timeframe for us.   Despite the odds, Ryan remains convinced that he will be ok.   More than ever we need your prayers, as Ryan's body is so very weak right now.   Our family is setting aside this Sunday as a day of prayer and fasting on Ryan's behalf.   If you feel as though you would like to join us, we would sincerely appreciate each and every prayer offered.   Thank you so much for all the good thoughts, love and prayers you have directed towards our family.   It is now time to ramp up our prayers again.   An army of believers has to be stronger than cancer.   It just has to be.    

Much love ~Meri

With this update from Meri, we (the SFM Admin) have decided to begin raising funds once again for this family.  Please don't feel obligated, but if you can, please donate to the Schuhmacher family to help with continuing medical expenses.  Any amount is appreciated.  We have the goal set at $15,000 and a 2 week timeline.  This will allow the money to get to Meri and Ryan as quickly as possible.

Continuing prayers are also VERY much appreciated.

Here is the link to donate if you can, and please feel free to share with your friends and family: http://www.giveforward.com/schuhmacherfamilymiracle2
 
Thank you ♥

A Very Special Thank You

Yesterday was a special day.  We were lucky enough to celebrate three special occasions in one day. First, it was Jessi's 7th birthday!  While we are planning her party for another day, we did celebrate with chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and a couple of gifts to open!

The second event was the wedding of a beautiful young lady who I babysat for when she was a little girl.  (So far, both were special events, although both have made me feel old!)

The third of these special events was the wedding of my cousin, Joe, to his beautiful bride Miranda.  I have to share with you their most special way of saying "Thank you".

(Please excuse the plain photo.  I'm so mad at myself for not taking a picture of this note card while it was sitting on the table at the reception.  The centerpieces were beautiful and this shimmering card was sitting in front of them, reflecting the glow of the candles.)

Isn't that the coolest thing ever?  Instead of spending money on trinkets for the guests to take home, they donated the money that they would have spent to JDRF in honor of Ally.  It made me cry, but it made my heart smile too.  What a completely selfless act, on a day that should be all about the newlyweds!

Ally told Miranda "thank you" and her response was, "Thank you for being so strong in dealing with your diabetes."  She also told me that she hoped that other guests at the wedding would read it and think about making a donation as well.

A few people around the DOC have been writing about the days when diabetes just makes us feel alone.  We get that.  But today we feel the opposite.  What a beautiful thing for our family to advocate for Ally and for her future through their support of JDRF!

So, thank you to Joe & Miranda, for making us feel special on your special day!