Your comments got me thinking about all the things that people have said to me over the years when they find out that I'm diabetic or that Lily is diabetic. Oh, people can be so uninformed and scary sometimes! Their comments can really leave you speechless and feeling like a freak sometimes. So I thought I'd share with you my absolute favorite comment that I hear so often:
You have to give yourself/your child shots? Oh my gosh, I could NEVER do that!
Seriously, this is my absolute favorite comment. I love hearing it because it makes me laugh every darn time. I swear, people just don't think before their comments fly right out of their mouths. Do they imagine that I've never been afraid of needles? That my child isn't afraid of needles? That she's never cried, run the other way, screamed that she didn't want to be poked? I remember one particular incident with Lily, the day after she was diagnosed. She was in the hospital still and they'd been using her toes for her blood sugar checks. Toddler fingers are so incredibly tiny! One of the nurses that we really liked walked into our room, smile on her face, greeted us and then turned to greet Lily, while reaching down to tickle Lily's foot. Oh my, I'm sure her scream was heard several floors above and below us!
So here's why I love this comment in particular...until you experience this for yourself, you have no concept of what you could and will do to make sure your child stays safe and healthy, to make sure you stay safe and healthy. I've had some rough times in the past (I'll share them with you someday soon) and I can guarantee you, even someone who is deathly afraid of needles will pick one up and jab it into their own flesh or the flesh of their child when faced with the choice between that needle or death. Death by diabetes is not something anyone would want. And honestly, from my own experiences with it, I can tell you that it's not something you'd even wish on the worst person you know! Long before a person got to that point, they'd pick up that needle. When it comes down to it, we face our fears, the worst of our fears, in order to achieve survival for ourselves and our children. It's amazing how we willingly do what we never thought we could when we're given such a choice!
Off to test Lily one last time before I turn in for the night!
CINDY - I can SOO relate...especially to the last sentence. People have often said to me - 'I don't know how you do it'. I simply respond - 'When you have no choice, you do it'.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day Cindy!
I know right - because we love giving shots and really our kids just really love getting them. People can be so dense!!!
ReplyDeleteThe comment craziness will never end! They say they can never do it...but they would in a heartbeat if it was what they needed to do to keep their child alive.
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