Yesterday, after we experienced our high because of our perfect 7 for baby's A1c, as I was walking out of the exam room, I heard a fellow T1D mom say: "There is just so much to remember!"
Her cry of frustration came after our doctor asked if her daughter had a medical Id bracelet. This seems like a very simple question. Immediately, as I was walking towards the nurses' station to wait for my written instructions and treatment plan, I thought... A medical ID? Who does not have one? How can a diabetic child walk around without a medical ID that states that the child has Type 1 Diabetes? And in one nanosecond , I judged my fellow T1D mom. I immediately felt bad for her. I also felt bad for judging her at a moment when she was expressing frustration. I remained still and quiet by the nurses station. It was not my place to say anything.
This quick exchange took about 1 minute while our doctor signed the treatment plan to give me a copy to take home. And that brief moment, I realized that she is right. My fellow T1D mother was overwhelmed. I am sure her mental list of things to do, things to get, things that are absolutely imperative, things to pick up, things to... You catch my drift, right? How in the world can this be done? My doctor interrupted my thoughts, and asked: "Does she have a medical ID bracelet?" I rolled up my daughter's sleeve, to show that my daughter had a silver medical ID with the symbol of health warning, a jelly wristband that says "I have type 1 diabetes", and finally one more jelly wristbands that has her name, her diagnosis, and my cell phone number. The doctor stared at me, and said: "You are too prepared."
I immediately said to her: "With these perfect children, you are never too prepared." She asked if my daughter was always with me and I answered that she was. She went on to say that it was important for us to remain prepared and organized as we have been until now, so that when school days roll around, there would be no shock from the change.
I walked away, still elates from our wonderful news. I got into my car, after jumping rain puddles with my daughter. It was a great moment. It was also a great opportunity to reflect upon the need for us to be prepared. I have heard many people say that preparation is not transferable. I strongly believe this is true. However, when dealing with situations that are so unpredictable, how can you prepare for the known and the unknown?
I have yet to find great answers that can be applied to everyone else. I can only answer these questions for myself and my daughter's needs. However, in a world where there is so much that needs to get done and so many things that need to be remembered, preparation and organization have never been more crucial for a stable life style.
Just right then and there I realized that in order to do anything in this life, we must be willing to learn. Willing to accept the inevitable changes that come to our lives. Willing to take the unexpected and run with it. But also willing to withdraw from the world when needed. We also have to be willing to enter into our own personal wildernesses all alone, armed only with faith and the knowledge we can do it. Throughout this time, I have been blessed with many offers of assistance. But but I have accepted that this is my wilderness to conquer. My challenge to tackle. And also my victory to experience. I have been slowly prepared for this and I will not fear. I cannot fail. I too experience feelings of being overwhelmed...but nothing overcomes that faster than a smile from my little one. Yes! This is too much, but is it also worth everything!
No comments:
Post a Comment