Sunday dHero…..Getting between Bullies and Someone in Need! Please Let this Young Lady Know How Special She is.

Her name is Amber, she lives in California, she is 13, new in her school just moving there from Texas, and was diagnosed with diabetes at age 9.  She loves music and she is Diabetesdad’s Sunday dHero…….you may find her to be a hero also.

Her mom states how Amber excels in so many different areas, loves music, and even won competitions dealing with music that she wrote and sang.  But it is the music she followed from her heart that makes her a hero…….BIG  TIME.

Last month a young man was trying to retrieve his instrument from the music room.  This young man has a bit of cognitive issues.  As he went back to the classroom the door was held shut by two young boys on the other side.  On top of that, the taunting started, so did the jokes, and you can imagine how this was playing out.

Now remember that Amber is new to the school and at age 13 the most important thing in a young teenagers life is probably the need to fit in.  Not so with this dHero.  She follows a different melody in her heart…..she listens to the tune of fairness. 

While the bullying was going on, Amber walked right up to the closed-door and the two boys released it allowing her entrance.  Once inside she not only held the door for the young man being bullied she had something to say.
“Y’all need to let him get his cello. He is trying to learn and get a good grade like most of us – unlike you two. Y’all also need to stop being so mean to others.”

Isn’t it hard enough to be a teen-ager and to deal with diabetes?  Isn’t well enough just getting by for Amber’s life?  Isn’t it ‘just enough’ to have her get through every day being different and feeling different?   She is not different at all by diabetes (nor should she be); she is different from many by her beautiful heart.  The lesson is a clear one and taught best by Amber herself. “The only thing I hate more than diabetes is bullying. I can live with diabetes, I can’t live with people who bully. Plus one day there will be a cure for diabetes but not for ‘stupid’ “

“……but not for stupid.”   I just love that!

Unknown to Amber, a teacher saw the entire incident unfold and she was awarded “Student of the Month.”  Not bad for being in a new school….is it? Her mom tells me that  “Amber is not shy when it comes to standing up for the right of everyone to be treated with respect.”

The world needs more people like Amber.  Amber you take one huge bow.  We are proud of you and you are surely Diabetesdad’s Sunday dHero.

I hope the whole world leaves a comment for you to read on this blog–because you deserve it.  We are all so proud of you and today; you have become the teacher and the rest of us, the students.  Thank you.

I am a Diabetesdad

Sunday dHero—This Story Will Truly Make You Shutter

My Sunday dHero is AJ and his is one of the most tragic and negative-turned-positve stories you will ever read.  My dear friend Moira wrote about it completely and I will not take it away from her.  I warn you; if you read this, your life will change.

http://despitediabetes.com/2012/09/30/meet-a-j-the-boy-who-faced-down-bullying-about-diabetes-like-the-super-hero-he-is/

A mad as hell tragedy…we can all help. Read, do, & share.


It’s not enough. You have to get mad; so mad that you do something.

Dammit I’m angry as hell. You get mad too. Please read.

Meri and Ryan Schuhmacher with their 4 young boys (teens and below in age) were just like any other couple; you, me, or even your friends and/or relatives, they’re a family. Meri is the type of woman who somehow always finds a blessed light in the darkness of things that happen in this world. She is a fabulous writer and her “OurDiabeticLife.com” is about as refreshing and real as it gets.

Did I forget to tell you that 3 of her 4 boys also live with T1 diabetes every day? Figure it this way 24/7/365X3.

Six months ago she revealed to the world that her husband would be battling a rare form of brain cancer and to say the fight was valiant would be an understatement. With 3 kids living with type 1 diabetes, fighting valiantly is a way of life for the Schuhmacher Family.

I saw them in July and you could tell it was a struggle but Ryan had a smile to give and his family around him at the Children with Diabetes conference in Orlando Florida.

Ryan lost his battle over the weekend. Just like that, six months apart, total upheaval of a family. That should make me angry at life. That should make you angry too. Meri wouldn’t want that and truly, it’s not in my make up; but make no mistake—I’m real angry. I’m asking you to get angry too.

Diabetes, Cancer, MS, Alzheimer’s, Autism, and so many more diseases that strike a chord with one of us, or all of us, are always asking for money. Camps, hospices, hospitals, and educational institutions are all also constantly asking for money. And it is understandable, times are tough. Money is needed for extremely important issues.

Recently a woman was bullied on a bus and the world thought it was horrendous and raised $702,384 for this woman. That was fabulous.

This is horrendous also.
Think about this: a woman with 4 young boys and 3 of them with type one diabetes, and not only is the love of her life gone, but so is the family’s source of income. Meri must now ‘go it alone’. Medical bills from Ryan’s cancer battles, three boys with diabetes, daily living with a house and all that goes into running it and the food bills for 4 growing boys; plus so much more—-you get the picture.

A site that was started to help with Ryan’s medical bills is now the financial lifeboat for the Schuhmacher Family’s enormous expenses. Life has completely bullied Meri and I’m asking you to be angry right along with so many others and angry enough to care. Meri will move forward in life because….well….that is Meri. She is a proud woman and a great mother. We can impact the future of this family. Let’s do it……together.

http://www.giveforward.com/schuhmacherfamilymiracle2

By clicking the above link is a way every single cent will make a difference to a family in need, both now and for years to come. If you have $5, it will make a difference. If you can give more, please do so. Give because you are doing okay, give because your kids are okay, give because you want to see your money actually help a family and make a difference, give because that is what we all do when someone needs our help; this help is needed more than you will ever know. Please, give.

PLEASE–give today and share this blog somewhere else. We’re all God’s creatures, even when we’re mad as hell. Thank you. I’m a Diabetes Dad.