As this years’ Diabetes Awareness Month began, many calls came to me that Saturday Moring of the horrific car accident that claimed the lives of five people who were known throughout the diabetes community. People who cared. People who would come together and raise funds in bike rides and other ways to help the diabetes world of which we are all part. One of them was a dear, dear, friend.
It has taken me weeks to figure out what to write, the reality is so unbearable. Everything you’ve read or heard about Michelle Bauer (some knew her last name as Alswager) and the way she has changed this world in honor of her dear son, Jesse taken too young from diabetes, are absolutely true. She was a powerhouse. If you knew Michelle, you knew her Jesse was Here Campaign. Countless amount of people who lost a loved one, and in most cases a child, were comforted from the places they could turn communicating with others who knew exactly what they were feeling. Places created by Michelle.
So many times Michelle would speak and as much as it appeared almost effortlessly, it tore her insides out to relive that fateful day again, and again, and again. But if it had a chance to help someone, she would do it each time knowing, as only those who have lived through it know, the help so desperately needed in a darkest hour when a loss occurs.
Michelle allowed me access to one of her sites even though I have not experienced that dreadful loss. She said, “…don’t just read about them Tom, do something.” As I read, it became abundantly clear how many were from the missed diagnosis of T1D. It became, and still is, a life mission of mine to help prevent that from occurring.
Many GREAT people and organizations wrote some pretty wonderful things about Michelle and those who were tragically taken that fateful day in early November. Michelle was not a believer in mere words. She was an action-type-woman. Her dear friend, Jen, caught onto this immediately and took over as administrator for one of the Jesse was Here sites so that it will continue. Jen knows the pain as Michelle did, and those people are now in great hands. Now ask yourself what you can do to further Michelle’s work. Her work mattered……..not just Jesse, but Michelle was here too. We owe it to them to keep her work going. Just don’t do nothing.
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Tagged diabetes, diabetes dad, diabetes inspiration