JDRF T1D4ADAY

On Thursday, August 16, 2007 I posted for the first time on Arden's Day in a post titled, "Decided to Share". At the time I wasn't trying to 'launch a blog', I didn't really know what a blog was. Here's proof that I didn't know what I was doing, the image from the first post, the one shown above, it was named "1.jpg" - I was more then a novice. All I wanted was a way to explain what a day in Arden's life was like to the people in my immediate circle of family and friends. So I decided to post something each and every time that diabetes entered our day for one day. 

I was so moved by what I was about to do that I, uninvited, emailed (Geez, I'm embarrassed to say this)... emailed everyone in my address book at each diabetes moment. I think that I did that for the first few of the morning and then invited people to follow along for the remainder of the day at a link. I did send a note first, though that doesn't make it much better, announcing my plan. Looking back, people must have thought that I was nuts, and mabe I was. It was a few days before Arden's first diaversary and I was probably extra emotional because I had some lofty and unrealistic expectations about what I imagined the first anniversary would bring. I expected clarity to arrive on that day, strangely I thought the keys to diabetes knowledge were about to be dropped at my door. Anyway, I just put it out there in a big bad way and people responded, and many told me how impactful the experiance was. After that I just kept going...

The JDRF has just announced a program called 'T14ADAY', that invites people to sign up for text messages that will arrive over a twenty-four hour period with the intention of showing someone the extent to which type I is involved in our days. I really think that this is a great idea! Here's more info directly from the JDRF:

Throughout November, we're asking people to better appreciate what people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience every day, every hour by taking part in a unique mobile-based challenge: T1D for a Day.

When you sign up for the T1D for a Day text challenge, you agree to receive as many as 24 text messages over a 24-hour period that simulate the constant blood sugar testing, insulin injections, and dietary decisions that confront people with T1D.

While no virtual campaign can recreate the many needles required or the physical and financial tolls of this serious disease, T1D for a Day seeks to deepen understanding of the many heroic steps our friends and loved ones with T1D take each day.

Please sign up for the T1D for a Day challenge now!

There is more information at the this link including how to get started online or with your cell phone. I'm spotlighting this effort from the JDRF becasue I know first-hand how much of an impact what I did all those years ago had on the people in my family and our friends. This is a great oppurtunity for the people in your life, the ones that may be struggling to understand type I, to get a closer look at why you look so tired. 

You can find all of my DayOne posts from 2007 here or by clicking on the DayOne tag.

Comments

[Scott E]

Wow, Scott. I just went through all your first-day posts, and while the details and treatment isn't new to me, it certainly is a new perspective. In my day as a kid, we used much slower-acting Regular insulin so the changes in BG were more gradual. NPH as a long-acting insulin, though, was a killer. The consequence of both was that it was MUCH HARDER to correct a high, even MORE important to time meals properly, and I had a VERY strict meal plan. But even with fast-acting Novolog, for someone Arden's size, that half-unit precision must have been rough; not only to calculate, but to draw up and inject. And about a kid not wanting to finish a meal... when I was younger, that was my parents' problem and I didn't think about it. I didn't even recognize what it meant.

Reading this account of things in the past brings some comfort, because I know the saga continues with you both doing quite well in the present. I can only imagine what it was like to read this, or to live this, in real time. You (both Scott and Arden) should be proud of your accomplishments! Look at where you were then, and where you are now. You've done admirably.

These are just a few of the (disorganized) thoughts that came to mind as I read those older posts (unfortunately, some of the early videos seem to be missing). I apologize for the thoughts not being more coherent.

[Scott Benner]

Hey Scott, Sorry for the slow reply... I've been under the weather.

Thanks for taking the time to read back and letting me know about the links. About a year ago I received a note from a PWD. She said that immediately after reading something I wrote she drove to her mother's house to hug her. She told me that she had never had the occasion to consider what her parents had done for her as she grew up with type I. I was and remain proud that my sharing can bring that kind of understanding to people outside of my blogs focus. Very warming indeed.

I wish I had as much hope for how it was all going to end up back when it was happening... Love hearing from you!

Best,
Scott