And the Oscar goes to...

Leah, for "Pretend Your Feet Stink"!

North Dakota's Delegate

Chase's bio is on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's website: http://cc.jdrf.org/delegates/ND/

I've been having a strange week dealing with diabetes. On Sunday, we attended our semi annual support group meeting. Both Gary and I would have skipped it if we had a choice, but we needed to meet with some members from JDRF that were giving a presentation. Since we are 3 1/2 years into this, it feels like we've been there, done that, but we knew that we need to be there for the other families that are just starting their journey. Hearing them talk and seeing the pain in their eyes on Sunday seemed to pull on that emotional scab that I've been desperately trying to heal.

It's amazing how easily I can be transported back to that November day in 2005 when I hear newly diagnosed families tell their story. What I most remember from that time was grieving for the childhood I thought my son was going to miss. Luckily, I do not think that Chase's diabetes has affected his quality of life in anyway.

After the meeting I told Gary that I didn't want to go to the support groups any more mainly for the reason above - it dredges up painful memories. Ironically, a family friend contacted me a couple days later to ask me if I'd offer support to a friend of hers who daughter was recently diagnosed. Okay, time to put my selfishness aside, because another emotion I remember from that time was the complete and total isolation that we felt. We had to figure it all out on our own without the support that we are now able to offer.

Just when you think you have it all figured out and have a plan things change. That's life. That's diabetes.