Diabetic War On Terror

On 9/10/09 I received an email from the JDRF Promise to Remember Me Committee requesting that I continue to write letters to members of Congress encouraging their support for a bill to renew the Special Diabetes Program research funding. This is my latest letter.

September 11, 2009

Dear Member of Congress,

It started out just like any other day. I was in a busy health department working as a Communicable Disease R.N., when I got the call. The call was from my daughter. She was absolutely frantic.

"Mama, I am in an ambulance on my way to the Hospital. Meet me there. Adalyne is in DKA." "What?" I screamed. "Diabetic Ketoacidosis, leave now. I think she is dying." she screamed back.

It was July 25, 2005. The Diabetic War on Terror had been declared. Adalyne Erin Rose, my granddaughter was under attack.

The next 24 hours remain vivid in my mind. I kept saying to anyone who would listen, "This can not be happening to Adalyne. She is only two years old."

Well, it was and it continues to happen every single day. Adalyne's life literally depends on blood glucose monitoring, carbohydrate counting, and the delivery of insulin which is NOT a cure. I have watched as my daughter and her husband have taken on the exhausting and financial battle of fighting Type One Diabetes. It is a war that is vastly under supplied and under funded.

I live with this Diabetic War filled with terror. Diabetes kills. Diabetes is relentless. Diabetes never takes a vacation. Diabetes never sleeps. Diabetes fights every moment of every day and every night. Diabetes will do anything to win every single battle.

I will never give up praying for a Cure for Diabetes. I will never give up praying for you and the leaders of the United States of America. Please do not give up on us. Please help us win this terrible Diabetic War On Terror. Vote for funding of Diabetic Research now! Join us, fight with us, and help win this Diabetic War. The sacrifice which Diabetes demands is great. This war is all consuming. Type One Diabetes is attacking our children and young people. Diabetes must be stopped. You have the power to help stop this war. Do it now!

Never cut funding to our Diabetic Troops. Adalyne is six years old. She is very brave. Everyday, she fights the battle for her life. This beautiful child must suffer every wound of this horrible War. Adalyne has no Body Armor to protect her. She must FEEL every physical and emotional assault of which her tiny body is subjected to. Adalyne needs you. You must fight for her. You have the power to win the Diabetic War on Terror.

You must do what is right. Adalyne is counting on you. Vote to protect Adalyne and all others who are fighting every day battling the Diabetic War on Terror. Vote for Diabetic Research Funding Now!

Thank you,

The Time Has Come...

I started my nursing career in 1969 and in 1972 gained my RN stripe. My College of Nursing was very progressive in that it's teachings were very heavy on public service. My nursing professors where hardened nurses, who had gained their professorships on the GI Bill. The were ex military nurses who had served in WWII and Korea. I graduated college when the Peace Corp was really gaining strength and at the same time the Vietnam War was coming to an end. Society was filled with underdogs.

I was 12 when John F.Kennedy took the office of President, "Ask what you can do for your country, not what your country can do for you." I was 15 when President Kennedy was assassinated. It was in that same year that Martin L. King cried, "I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will be judged by their character and not by the color of their skin." I was barely 20 when he was assassinated. With in months Robert Kennedy, "There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" suffered the same death. I was 30 when Edward Kennedy proclaimed, "Health Care is a right, not a privilege." Last week I cried at his funeral. These men were the strong leaders of my generation. It was around their ideals of service that I built my nursing career.

I made a decision to serve that summer evening in 1972 when I received my navy blue striped nursing cap declaring me a Registered Nurse. I was going to serve the underdogs. Those by definition who were the victims of social or political injustice. Underdog is not a pretty word, but neither are the words social injustice. For 40 years, I have held true to this decision. It has become the declaration of my life. I am not a perfect person. This is why Jesus is my rod.

I have never worked in a for profit institution of any type. I have spent my entire career in jobs where I was the only applicant. I have spent 40 years, caring for the mentally ill, the disabled, the incarcerated, the mentally challenged, the old, the poor, the addicted, and those who have no way of helping themselves, those afflicted with Tuberculosis and HIV. I spent 2 years trudging the Philippine jungle working with the Sister's of Mercy Project Hare Lip/Cleft Palate. This was a program which sought out children and adults who suffered this disfiguring disability and then worked to provide corrective surgery. I have worked in free clinics, taught smoking cessation classes, and educated thousands in the prevention of skin cancer, colon cancer and prostate cancer. I continue to spend hours of volunteer service for the Relay to Life for Breast Cancer, and as a political activist for JDRF. (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.) I have only practiced acute nursing in non profit or public hospitals.

I am not writing this post in order to receive "a pat on the back." Every nursing position or opportunity that I have ever held or served, provided me more than anything I could have ever offered in return. I am a better person, more compassionate, and have become more passionate because of the people and positions of which I have served.

Right now, I am counting the days, weeks and months as to when my nursing career will come to an end. I really only have a short time left, less than a year. In that time, I want to see the last of my goals complete. I want to serve in a US society in which all citizens have the right to access medical care. I believe passionately in this right. I believe in social justice where the word underdog should be eliminated. Yet, I am fearful that in the last few months of my nursing career, I will not see this come to fruition, which is the realization of something I have desired and spent 40 years working for.

I had almost lost hope, until last night. Last night, I became rejuvenated to continue so that Adalyne or any person who suffers will never be denied medical care because of the inability to pay or because they have a preexisting medical condition which prohibits them from qualifying. It is my hope and my prayer that I will live to see this dream come true. After last night I can say, I might. At least, I am hopeful once more. I also realize, that even though my nursing career may be coming to an end, a new one is beginning. I will always serve in any area where I am needed, retired or not. True service never ends.

Ok, I'm Getting Hot...

Recently while standing for 20 minutes in the express line at Walmart, I ran across a nameless person whose husband has been off work for almost 2 years because he suffered a non military injury on his "military weekend". All of his medical care has been paid for by the military. And, he has been given a partial disability for which he and his family will receive benefits and a monetary stipend for the rest of his life.

She went on a rant about how horrible the military medical system was and that it was proof that "socialized medicine was a failure." Before I blasted her, I remembered that I was a civilized person with genteel manners. I simply responded, "The military medical system in the US is NOT an example of socialized medicine." I expressed my sorrow at her husbands situation. Then, I explained that he now had a preexisting medical condition which now rendered him uninsurable in the private sector of health insurance. Therefore, I was grateful that he did qualify for military care.

Without blinking an eye, she asked...Where can I get Food Stamps? Just for a moment, I went back in memory to a health care reform town hall meeting which I had recently attended. I recalled the angry words screamed at me, "Not my problem, not my taxes!"

At that moment I wanted to scream at her, "Not my problem, not my taxes!" I held myself back from exhibiting the belligerent behavior that had recently been directed towards me, and calmly responded, "DSS in the Courthouse, second floor."

Come on now....is food really that necessary?

My Pledge...

I have been working on my new blog design for some time. Creating this blog is not easy for me. I am a girl of the '60's. Social networking was not even an imagined concept at that time. Now, blogging, twittering and facebook are ways that people stay in touch. Social networking is a way for people to develop friends and support groups without ever leaving home or getting on a plane. It is a way deep friendships can be developed in different country's, states and cities. A bit like pen pals were for me. I understand this phenomenon, but I am not an expert participant. Staying on top of this blog is difficult for me. Perhaps, if you are a reader, you have noticed spelling and grammar errors. Please overlook them. In order for me to stay in touch with Wendy who lives 2500miles away, I have had to learn some of the current social lingo. Therefore, Grandma 2 Candy Hearts was born. It is a way for me to share my life with Wendy and she with me. Blogging gives me the opportunity to meet some of her friends and to get to know them. After all, a Mom does want to know who her daughter is hanging out with!

I saved my new blog design for Labor Day, even though today is not the real holiday. Today, is the day that we celebrate. This new design is a gift to my daughter, Wendy. It is a gift of recognition and support in her battle against Type One Diabetes and Celiac Disease of which her oldest daughter, and my granddaughter, Adalyne suffers. I want Wendy to know that I will LABOR in this campaign beside her even though we are separated and share company very infrequently. I want her to know that I pledge to do everything in my power to bring Type One Diabetes and Celiac Disease to the forefront of the health care battle.

I am not the Cavalry. Wendy is. I am an Infantryman. I bring up the behind, offering support to the front line. To Wendy and Adalyne I pledge, I will not quit, I will not give in, I will not say I'm too old, I will not grow weary, and I will keep up the pace, until we have a CURE. Wendy, you are not alone. Sweetheart, you are my brave, and stalwart HERO in this fierce battle. Dear Adalyne is our Captain. God, is our strength.

Let It Be Known.....

Today, my Mom and I pay great respect to Wendy!

My Mom and I are both expert bread makers.....NON GLUTEN FREE bread makers. Not only did we make all of our own bread, we even had wheat grinders to grind our own wheat. So...this is the Dial Girl's history of bread making. I would say we have a combination of over 60 years of bread making experience between us. We are known for our great bread making skills...until today.

My Mom and I both are going Gluten Free. So, in order to do so, we had to get prepared. We bought the little bread maker that Wendy suggested and we bought our Gluten Free Flour to prepare for our new experience.

We started about 7:30AM this morning. Between the two of us, we couldn't even understand the directions to the little bread machine. Yes, I do have a college education. We waited patiently until 11 AM which we thought was an appropriated time to call Wendy in AZ. After spending about a 1/2 hour on the phone with her, Mama and I decided that we understood how to make Gluten Free Bread in our little bread maker on the Gluten Free Setting.

We followed the directions exactly as Wendy quoted to us. We did everything right except, we forgot to take the paddle out of the dough during the resting stage. Hence, we have a loaf of bread with a hole in the middle.

It is now 2PM, and both of us are exhausted. Although after a short rest, we are going to attempt the process again. So, to our Beloved Wendy, your Grandmother and Mother say...

Dearest Wendy,

We are astounded at your fortitude for Mothering three children under 6 years of age, and doing it well. Something, we have never done. We are amazed at your culinary gluten free baking skills and the time which is required to bake them. We give you our utmost respect as a time manager. Certainly, you could give us some hints on how you do everything that you accomplish in a day. We have successfully managed one loaf of bread in 6 hours, and we did not have children under foot, nor diabetes calling at our every thought. So today, September 6, 2009, we respectfully pay homage to Wendy, QUEEN OF THE GLUTEN FREE KITCHEN. From this time forward.....we bow in respect!