As most of you know by now, Little Kycie has lost her battle. In a statement released by her family:
Her mission on this earth was complete. We have found inspiration and strength from her courage. We are thankful for the last 5 months that she was able to be home with her family and at the same time change the world.—The Terry Family.
I was in my hotel room when I heard. I cried. You may have cried also. I know in all my heart and soul that Kycie, Little Reegan, and others will change this world—-our world. They have changed it already. They have saved lives already. They will continue to do so.
I have just a few thoughts today, but mostly I would ask that you hold the Terry family up in prayers; they need our prayers right now.
First and foremost, our deepest condolences to a family that has acted with the most amount of grace, respect, and in manner that has captured all of our hearts. Their grief now must be insurmountable.
There is much more I want to say and will say……..but I will not do it today. This week is for prayers, thoughts, and holding up a family that has meant so much to all of us and who have inspired all of us beyond measure.
As I read the posts over the last two days, I wanted to share something that Kycie’s Dad shared with me while they were going through everything that they were going through. He wanted Kycie’s story told but it was very clear that they wanted her story to be uplifting and educational without pointing blame. We need to give their family the respect of acting as they have wished.
Action? There will be plenty of time for action but I wanted to share what Josh shared with me a little while back. They have opened their story for us to watch unfold. They have shared their hearts. Let’s remember what thy have asked of us as well as we all move forward to try to change in honor and memory of the Reegans and Kycies of this world
Within the last few weeks, I was asked and accepted, being the Keynote speaker at the National Association of School Nurses in Philadelphia. I was discussing A Child’s Cry for Change (addressing the very issue of making sure a T1 diagnosis is not missed). I stated to the audience, telling Reegan’s and Kycie’s stories and so many like them with Josh’s request in my mind, that this is not anyone’s fault but it has become everyone’s responsibility to change it to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. The school nurses agreed.
The second thing I want to share with you today is about Deborah. Deborah lives in Pennsylvania and she is meeting with her Elected Representative today. She is meeting to tell her story today, and she will also tell Kycie’s story and Reegan’s story as well……..to, hopefully, make much needed changes.
We will talk much more about this up-coming but I felt compelled to share a few thoughts today. May Kycie’s family find some sort of peace as they learn to cope with the journey ahead of them. May we learn and accept what we each must do individually to move this process forward. May we each hug our own children just a little tighter today.
I am a diabetes dad.
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