Last week I had to wear a sling after my shoulder surgery and I got more comments and condolences from my friends and colleagues than I would have expected. People sent flowers, cards and food, and friends stopped by. Everyone was so kind and well wishing, which was greatly appreciated and really helpful in the process of healing. There is nothing like being noticed and cared about to lift your spirits especially when you are dealing with something like a surgery...
..or a chronic illness. What occured to me was that the VISUAL of the sling said "I'm hurt" and people responded to what they saw. Well, with diabetes, no one sees that I have a chronic illness I am dealing with every day. They don't know that I live with a disease that is by far more physically challenging to me than this minor surgery that I will recover from. And even though I wear a pump which is technically "visible", people usually think it's a pager or phone, so still they aren't really aware that I have diabetes.
Now, I'm most certainly not suggesting that we need to walk around with a big D on our chests either. It's not really anyone's business unless we want it to be. But what does occur to me about all this, is that maybe once in a while, we should treat ourselves to a bouquet of flowers to just say hey, WE notice what we deal with. In a way, that's what this newly found resource of support, the OC, is doing for me. Little acknowledgements of the courage it takes and struggle we face. And more importantly, acknowledgement of the joys of life and healthy living with diabetes. Life is good. So send yourself a bouquet of flowers, because boy, you deserve it!
What a great thought! I agree with your characterization of the OC. I find myself feeling proud to have type 1 diabetes! Being a part of this community makes me realize the collective struggle we share and how great it is that we're all fighing the good fight, so to speak.
I hope you're healing well!
Posted by: Kelsey | February 22, 2006 at 10:09 AM
I completely agree.
When the bouquet shows up at my office tomorrow, I'll feign surprise and I'll have to shield the card that will read, "To Kerri. Well done today, kid. Love, Kerri."
Posted by: Kerri. | February 22, 2006 at 08:18 PM
Wouldn't it be fun to set something up where each of us agrees to - just one day out of the blue - send flowers to the other? Just for slogging through this every day?
Posted by: art-sweet | March 15, 2006 at 06:20 PM