I had a birthday recently. I used to love birthday parties, I still do. But when we are younger and costume characters would show up, and a million kids from the neighborhood showed up, and it was just one huge blast, well nothing could ever replace those days, can they? My birthday wishes were silly back then, but now that I am older I find myself wishing the same thing that I wished for since the day my kids were diagnosed with diabetes. A cure.
Now in as much as I 1000% believe in the best education and the best management tools; it is ‘the cure’ for which I still pursue. And that wish has not diminished one iota over the years, in fact it has become stronger.
I can list, by the thousands, of things people say otherwise.
“I’ve heard 5 years away for the last 30 years.”
“Big pharma is keeping a cure hidden because it would economically crush them to be cured.”
“No one is really trying anymore.”
“I have been hearing that song for 20+ years.”
Yes. I have heard these also. And I’m surely aware just as everyone else is aware. This is not pie-in-the-sky stuff to me. What I am privy to in my professional life are the progressions in finding a cure. It’s not going to just not be here…..and one day it is. There are so many aspects that need scientific work. Stopping the body from attacking itself, protecting newly implanted islets, having enough cells for everyone, making sure there is blood flow (oxygen), and the list goes on and on. Cure—IS complicated. But complicated, to me, does not mean it can not also be doable.
And hear me loudly, I truly do not care where it comes from. I’m not going to defend one source of research over anyone/anywhere else. I am going to say to find some place and believe in them enough to get the job done. I do believe in the best treatments but to be quite honesty with you, if I did not wake up everyday thinking that a cure would come, I could not get through the day. It’s a promise I gave my daughter and again to my son. So I will keep working and challenging those I trust to get us there.
You don’t have to agree with me, but then again, it’s MY birthday wish.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.
2 replies on “Has your Wish Diminished Over the Years?”
I love this blog too, Mr. Karlya. I have thought of nothing else but a cure for my grandson, and how to help get there, from the very first day he was diagnosed 3 1/2 years ago. We promised him we would do anything and everything we could to help anyone along the way. I’m like you…I don’t care where the cure comes from. I really don’t. But, my grandson was told by a prominent doctor/scientist/researcher, that he would get him a cure, on the very first time he talked with him, and has told him that on numerous occasions since that day. My grandson believes him. My daughter believes him. Therefore…I believe him. I want that cure! If someone else gets to the finish line first, so be it! Whoever gets there first. But, I believe we all have to band together to help in that endeavor, Whoever is on the fastest track for a biological, real cure!!
I am fairly new to the diabetes world. My daughter was diagnosed in Feb 2014 so the wish and hope for a cure is still burning very bright. We promise our daughter every day that we will continue to support organizations like the JDRF to keep fueling the ability for research to happen. I feel that its important to keep hope alive so she will as well. I don’t think a day passes that I dont wish for a cure. Every tear shed with each site change fuels me with more hope, so yes. I wish for a cure daily.