Search Results for: blog i forgot i had diabetes

Dr. Diabetes

When I was a kid my favorite comic book characters were Archie, Betty, Veronica and Jughead. That was decades ago. These days kids are not only the ones reading comic books, but many of them are creating their own series and generating quite a following in the process. Once comic book series in particular has been making headlines around the world recently, not so much because of its subject matter, but because of who is responsible for crafting the books. Thirteen-year-old Kamaal Washington battles diabetes every day. In his comic book, “Dr. Diabetes,” a sinister character that is determined to … Continue reading →

Celebrities Putting A Famous Face On Diabetes

November is American Diabetes Month. For those of you unfamiliar with the disease, diabetes is a serious condition that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 21 million children and adults in the U.S. have the disease. It is the fifth deadliest disease in the U.S. and it has no cure. Families.com has an incredible diabetes advocate in our own blogger, Kristyn Crow. You can read her many excellent blogs … Continue reading →

“I Forgot I Had Diabetes!”

We were sitting around in our favorite gourmet burger spot, enjoying a celebration for my son who just turned twelve. Everyone had decided what size cheeseburger they wanted, how they wanted it cooked, and what kind of cheese would be grilled with the meat. We tried to keep an eye on the smaller members of the family, who had run over to the arcade, while my husband and I and our older children chatted about random stuff. Our pager buzzed, and the food was ready. Everyone hopped up to the counter and dressed their burgers, then eagerly sat down to … Continue reading →

The Start Of Kidney Disease

Let me start by saying that if you have not read any of my other blogs you may not know but my husband and I have horrible luck; with the exception of adopting 3 amazing kids and marrying each other that is. In 2004 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, had the tumor removed and went through 33 days of radiation. In 2005 I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, I went through tumor removal, chemo therapy, radiation, prophylactic bilateral mastectomies and many reconstructive surgeries. The reason I mention our bad luck is because this past August my husband … Continue reading →

For Parents of Diabetic Kids: What is Hypoglycemic Unawareness?

My son Garrett had a frightening experience in a class at school one day. Suddenly he was having difficulty writing. He had a hard time remembering how to spell simple words, and started to feel strange. Dizzily, he walked to the front of the classroom and approached the teacher. He opened his mouth to speak, but couldn’t remember how. He stood in front of the teacher trying to say something, anything, but the words wouldn’t come. Finally a look of understanding crossed the teacher’s face. “You’re a diabetic, aren’t you?” she asked, and quickly led him to the cafeteria, where … Continue reading →

A Special Show-and-Tell

I was talking to my twelve-year-old son’s teacher in a conference. “He’s a perfectionist,” the teacher said. “He works so hard at perfecting his assignments, he often doesn’t finish.” I looked over his grades. They weren’t bad grades, but they certainly weren’t indicative of his abilities. My son Riley is a high-achiever. This is a child who, when asked to create a simple comic strip for art, spent days mapping out a fantasy world with dragon-like creatures, then wrote a plot, character description, and an episodic story line. He often goes well beyond what is expected. “What do you think … Continue reading →

Disneyland and Special Needs Families

My family just returned from our annual trip to California. We spent time at the beach, Hollywood, Los Angeles, and one day in the world of Mickey Mouse. There’s something about Disneyland that has a real hold on me. I absolutely adore it. Some of my favorite rides include the Indiana Jones ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain. But I also love browsing the little shops, slurping pineapple spears, listening to performers on Main Street, and watching the “Fantasmic” show. The crowds are a bit frustrating at times, of course. But going back to Disneyland every … Continue reading →