Half Full

Just about a year and a half ago, my family’s world got turned upside down when my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just a week after her eighth birthday. There’s no warm up for the treatment regimen for diabetes. You need to start pricking your finger 8 to 10 times a day to test your blood sugar, and injecting insulin with every meal. It’s a grind. Two or more of those finger sticks happen in the middle of the night. There is no day off, and it’s a rare day that my daughter doesn’t shed a tear because she has diabetes.

As a dad, it’s enough to make you feel sorry for yourself. I have to admit that in the last year and a half I’ve indulged in too much self pity.

Last night I read a story that changed my world view from half empty to half full. It was a heart breaking story of a girl whose diabetes went undiagnosed until it was too late. She died of acute diabetic ketoacidosis in the emergency room with a blood glucose reading in the 500’s.

We were very lucky. My daughter’s diabetes was diagnosed during her annual physical. She never got sick. Most kids get very sick before the underlying diagnosis is identified. My wife reminded me that just days after her diagnosis was made, we were in the sticks of New Hampshire skiing. If we hadn’t caught this in the physical, it is highly likely that she would have gotten sick on that trip.

As painful and difficult as this diagnosis is, I am just so happy that my daughter can still have a completely full, productive, and happy life.

We all have our crosses to bear. Viewing your glass as half full will help you to hold onto the turkey.