Sometimes email doesn't cut it
Scott Benner
Earlier this week I spoke on the phone with the mother of a child with type I diabetes. The story of how we met is short but it points out just how powerful and rewarding helping another person can be.
Last year I spoke to our Congressperson about Arden's diabetes during a JDRF Promise Meeting which led to a staffer in his office sharing my web address with someone. That person emailed me with a question nearly a year later and we decided to talk over the phone instead of going back and forth vial email.
And I'm very glad that we did!
Had we not spoken, I would have just answered her questions and probably never heard from her again. Instead, we had a meaningful conversation that went far beyond her initial question and it left us both feeling better about a number of issues that can hang over parents like us.
The details are private but this statement tells the story. She told me that was so happy that she spoke because, "I always thought that I was the only one going through all of this" and that feeling left her with the terrible feeling that she must "be doing everything completely wrong".
I knew exactly how she was feeling because I've felt the same way in the past. I urge anyone that is feeling defeated by the rigors of caring for a child with type I to find someone to talk to who can understand your concerns. You can't imagine how much better you'll feel after you've spoken to someone that has walked a mile in your shoes.
I was so happy to be able to help another type I parent that the experiance rekindled an idea that I had last year... I hope to have some more news about that very soon.
Please know that the you aren't alone, that it is very likely that the moments that seem like failures are quite common and that I'm always here if you want to reach out.