Snapshots of a Hero

Diabetes Blog Week: Day 6 AND 7

Well, I seem to have fallen behind.  What with the sick kid and life in general... that seems to be a common theme around here lately!  But you know what?  I'm not sorry.  It means that I've been out LIVING life with my family.  With diabetes in tow.  And isn't that what it's really about?

So I decided to combine day 6 and 7.  I'm going to show you some snapshots of my diabetes hero.

She's 6 years old.

She's been living with diabetes for over 3 years.

We are weeks away from the point where she will have lived WITH diabetes longer than she has lived without it.

At six.

That breaks my heart.

But she's tough.  She's a fighter.  She never complains about not feeling well.  Nothing much keeps her down.

She doesn't remember what it's like to live without diabetes.  So she just lives WITH it and lives life to the fullest.

Yes, she wishes she didn't have it.  So do I.  I wish it was me.  Maybe more than I wish for a cure, I wish it was me.  I wish it had been me and not her.

But that little girl is showing us all what it means to be strong and tough.  What it means to just keep swimming.  That with faith, all things are possible.

It's a part of her life in a way I will never fully comprehend. 

One day I will turn it over to her.  I will have to tell her that I did the best I could.  I made decisions based on what I hoped would best for her.   That I've given her the skills she needs - and now it's her turn.  It's her life. 

That scares me. 

And I dread that day - or more accurately time because I'm sure it will be a process.  Not because I don't think she can handle it.  But because I don't want her to have to handle it. 

I know what it takes to manage diabetes.  From the outside, yes.

It's hard.  And that could be the understatement of the year. 

I wish she could just live her life without that disease constantly demanding attention.  I wish I could just handle it for her forever.

But she is my hero because I know, without a doubt, even at six years old... that she's got this.

She's going to be fine.

Sure, she may rebel a little.  She may go through times when she just OVER it.  Who doesn't?

But I know that she is going to make it through.  Diabetes won't hold her back. 

It didn't at three.
It didn't at four.
It didn't at five.
It isn't at six.

And it won't at 26.
or 36.
or 46.
or 56.
or 106.

This little girl is crazy incredible folks.  She's funny and smart and independent.  She's stubborn and determined.  She's athletic and creative and a total goofball.  She's ham.  She kind and caring.  She's resilient.  She's tough as nails.  Don't that sweet face fool you!  She's strong and courageous.  She's incredible.

She's my hero.

And I am so lucky to be her Mama.