Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Guest Blogger-polooza Day 1: Kim

While I am with my family living up the Disney Dream, I have some amazing friends that are pinch hitting for me this week. My blog will dazzle you for the next five days with posts from some of the most amazing PWD, (people with diabetes,) in the blogosphere!

I begin this exciting week with a guest post from Kim Vlasnik at Texting My Pancreas.



If you haven't checked out her blog...cut and paste her URL now! Her humor, her candor, and her drive to make a difference inspires me! Thank you Kim for your words of wisdom today!

Okay.

Diabetes digs its claws.

Have you ever awoken, drenched and confused
Stumbled down a hallway that's suddenly sideways
With feet that won't keep step with each other?

A number like 45 looks so innocent
Until it shows up on that little hand-held, digital scorecard.

But you know what?
Numbers are kinetic and fleeting.
Digits don't have to be defining.
And I'm okay.

That my pancreas could realize
What my heart holds -
How embarrassed it might be.
Because then; then it would know
The guilt I feel when others are hurting,
Yet I'm okay.

Diabetes digs in; leaves its mark everywhere.

If only I could go back to that teenager I was.
If only I could tell her all the things she'd do.
I want to tell her to cut the crap and start paying attention.
I want to tell her that life will get much, much better, but not yet.
I want to tell her, despite her beliefs to the contrary:
Things will work out okay.

There are going to be days you feel like you've been run over.
You'll forget to bring test strips; you'll forget abouting testing completely.
You'll overlook insulin until the moment the thirst comes knocking.
You'll get looks. They'll stare.
They'll ask you why you can't even things out.
They'll ask if "that's a good idea right now".
They'll say they understand, even when you both know they don't.

Diabetes will try to bring you into the dark with it.

But you know what? You can survive that.
You WILL survive that.
You have strength in there; willpower; poise.
You've also got a snarky comeback on tap.
Use those; all of that.
This is about survival; this is about flourishing.
You're going to be more than okay.

Okay?

14 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for having me, Meri!! It's an honor. :)

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  2. Thank you, Kim, for an amazing guest post! It is nice to hear from our children's future knowing it will be okay.

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  3. Great message...it will be okay! Thanks Meri for hosting Kim as a guest blogger. Ilove to hear from PWD!

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  4. That was beautiful Kim!! Thank you for sharing and guest blogging. My biggest wish is that Cara will grow and learn and understand as you all have. You are truly an inspiration to me that Cara will be OK!!

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  5. Oh!! I love this!! Am I going to cry at week??? And Kim, I'm going to call you have you tell Sweets those things yourself in a few years. She will believe YOU, I'm sure! Thanks so much. This warms my heart!

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  6. Okay! What a great post Kim!

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  7. I'm glad that I am not the only one who forgets test strips... I forgot the whole flipping d bag today and went shopping :/

    Great post Kim.

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  8. You know, this is just what I needed to hear/read today Kim. I am struggling a bit lately. Numbers aren't smooth. I was so angry the other night I actually felt "hate" towards "D". That is new for me. I did not like it. I need to change that ... luckily Joe was sleeping during my weakened state and he did not see me tear up. The numbers, the see-sawing, the implications of it all...but...you are right, he...Joe is flourishing. He is maturing. He is taking on more of "D"...even combo boluses and temp basals...he is mowing the frickin' lawn!

    Thank you for lifting my spirit a bit more with your post. And thanks Meri for having Kim.

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  9. A wonderful, inspirational post! Great guest today!

    Excited to read more guest posts!

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  10. YAY!!!!!!!!! Love Kim :)

    This hit a soft spot for me. Like Reyna, we're struggling here as well. The transition from school to summer has been a train wreck!

    But we'll be okay.

    Thanks for the encouraging reminder :)

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  11. You all are making ME cry, now. :)

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  12. Thank you so much for such a great post! I love reading PWD blogs and getting the 1st hand knowledge that they can share with those of us who are living with D but not actually living with D. Know what I mean?

    I really needed these encouraging words today. Thank you, Kim. Thank you!

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  13. Kim, as always: wonderful. You nailed when saying, "They'll say they understand, even when you both know they don't." So very true. Story of our lives. Thanks for writing this, my friend, and thank you Meri for sharing it here.

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  14. These posts are intense.awesome message Kim. I heart you!

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