Today's post is:
"Write a TV episode of your favorite show that features someone with diabetes. What do you want people to know?"
Now, don't judge, but I love me some Real Housewives of (insert ALL of them here)!! This is probably THE only show I watch with any regularity. Sad. I know. But sometimes it's nice to get lost in some mindless show. Don't be hating.
The twist is that we don't have on set hairstylists, a fashion line we are working on or a singing career (what's up with that?), vacations to Africa, endless shopping, or the time to be offended for something some other housewife has said about us. And if you do...please tell me your secret!! As I must be doing something wrong!!
So I will insert 5 D Mommas from your area of town. We aren't fully made up complete with false eyelashes. As a matter of fact, it's a bonus that we have mascara on. Probably, due to the fact that we've been up all last night battling lows that our diabetic children have been having. We have been on the phone with the mail order pharmacy for 4 hours explaining to them that 300 test strips are NECESSARY to our child's care. And that our growing child MUST have 3 vials of insulin because they are taking in more carbs then the month before. We have been fighting with medical insurance to cover clinic appointments every 3 months and that we MUST have (insert medical device here) not because it looks cool but because it is medically necessary.
The cameras will follow us at every step. Checking BG at midnight, 3 am and 6pm. How a low was treated. With mass consumption of carbs because we want our babies blood sugar in range if not a tad bit higher so they will awake in the morning. The audience will see us at every Endo visit. Hear our every insurance, Dr and pharmacy call. They will also see how diabetes impacts the WHOLE family. How kids in the family who don't have diabetes feel less important because their D sib is getting ALL the attention. The camera will follow the D kids at school and on sports teams or hanging with their friends and see how some of these areas are a comfort for our D kids because they have supportive teaching staff, coaches and friends. But then some will see the D kids being treated as a bother to the classroom or sitting the bench because the coach is afraid to play them or friends that don't show compassion to them.
The audience will see every sigh of relief as we see our slumbering D child exhale and live another day. They will see every tear shed by parents who have fought for their child for school rights, insurance coverage, Dr appointments that don't go well or DO go well, or just from pure exhaustion and the fact that we can't take this awful disease away.
But we aren't a bunch of whiners either...
The audience will also see every triumph with every anniversary of diagnosis that the child made it through. With every good grade on a test that comes home because D played nice and your child was able to study and take the test because their blood sugar was in range. The basketball shot, the football snap, the soccer kicked in for a goal or personal records met and achieved even with diabetes. Most importantly, the audience will see the D kids as well, kids! Yes, they need to take blood sugars, take insulin, do site changes, test for ketones and all that D related stuff. But I have found they are wise beyond their years. They value friendships. They advocate for themselves at school, in sports and even in front of Congress.They have a wonderful compassion for people with disabilities or diseases. They are sweet, caring and understanding.
I don't want audience pity. I want audience compassion and understanding. I want them to know it's NOT depressing or all "doom and gloom" everyday but it IS life changing.Diabetes DOES suck but it doesn't stop them from doing what they want OR from being a kid.
Now...to find a film crew, hairstylist, personal chef and trainer and some more fabulous blue heels. Real Housewives of the DOC unite!!
*author's note: I MUST give credit where credit is due...this blog post was inspired by a conversation BHS had one day about a little idea Ms. Diane brought to us about the "Real Housewives of the DOC". It's been stuck in my head since then and I finally found an outlet for it!!*
