How many sunrises? How many sunsets? How do you measure a year? Seasons of love, as stated in the Broadway Musical, Rent.
On November 1, 2025, it will be one year since Michelle and Jeff Bauer, and their close friends, all of whom were united in trying to make a difference in our collective diabetes lives, lost theirs in a horrendous car accident after a night filled with celebration.
A piece of paper lists their passing as November 2nd. But it was really November 1st; the first day of Diabetes Awareness Month. Police reports, rescue records, hospital documentation, and finally, the death certificate all make it “officially” November 2nd. I’m not sure why this detail matters so much to me, but it does. Maybe because it was November 1st. Maybe because it was the first day of Diabetes Awareness Month.
Michelle. Jesse. Diabetes.
They all roll off the tongue as one; one unit, one cause, one shared heartbeat.
It has been a long, long year. I can honestly say I don’t think a single day has gone by that I haven’t thought of Michelle. She was a good friend, honest, strong, and never afraid to speak her mind. Her list of friends was long, but the number of lives she touched was endless. I remember when her friend Jen stepped in to continue Jesse Was Here, the site Michelle created for those who lost a loved one to diabetes. A task no one would want—but Jen felt she had to do it. Because it mattered to Michelle. It was her labor of love. Still had to be extremely difficult.
Maybe moving forward, we all take a page from these events and pause each November 1st to reflect to take stock of what we’ve done over the past year to further the cause, to make a difference, to “just not do nothing” in our diabetes world.
When Jesse passed, no one would have blamed Michelle if she had said, “I’m done.” But she didn’t. Somehow, after losing her precious Jesse, her efforts doubled. How? I have no idea. But they did.
In all the sadness of losing Michelle (and the others as well), I’ve found a small bit of solace. In their investigation, one detective noted that the camera showed Jeff and Michelle kissing on one side of the bar, and then kissing again on the other side, just before they left that fateful night. Their love was so real. So visible. So, them.
Michelle shared her love with all of us. So, moving forward, every November 1st, let’s reflect on the love Michelle showed and make a pledge that in the coming year, we’ll try to do the same.
And if you make that pledge but fail to keep it, well… Michelle would also let you hear it. She. Surely. Would. Let. You. Hear. It. We miss you, Michelle.
I’m a diabetes dad. Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like.’ Tagged diabetes, diabetes dad, diabetes inspiration
