Yesterday there was news around the diabetes community about a beloved 13 year old girl who passed away apparently from dead in bed syndrome. Although not all of us knew the girl or her family personally, our hearts ache just the same. There was a moment of silence for her at the beginning of the DSMA chat last night, there are candles in many profile pictures on Facebook and Twitter in her honor, there is lots of sadness and detestation for diabetes throughout the community.
I have to admit that I don’t usually dwell on the negatives of living with this condition. I have my moments, as we all do, but I do what I have to and try not to think about the “what if’s”. Yesterday was different. Today is different. This event and the “what if’s” of diabetes is heavily on my mind. I laid in bed last night with a tear or two falling from my eyes instead of falling asleep. Afraid to close my eyes. I’ve been through this myself, losing my father to diabetes and its complications. But a 13 year old girl? Who closed her eyes to go to sleep and never had a chance? This scares the hell out of me. We do everything in our power to manage our blood glucose levels. And the fact that this girl and her parents were doing everything they could, just. is. not. fair.
This precious girl was a young daughter, a sister, a friend, possibly a grandaughter and niece or cousin. She was a child with diabetes who now will never grow up to be an adult with diabetes. My prayers are with her family and will be for a long time. This is heart breaking news of something that no family or friend should ever have to experience. Or something that any person with diabetes should have to fear. And I’m very glad for the diabetes community since I know I’m not feeling these things alone. I just wish there was something we could do for her family.
The Girl with the Portable Pancreas 