After speaking to a mom who lost a child recently, who is dealing with the loss on her own even though I gave her many resources which she stated she may utilize, I was struck by the voices we have lost that must remain ‘loud’ with all that we do. I wrote the following after I hung up the phone with this incredible mom.
There was a time people commented and smiled on my young voice that matched my cute face that sold the lemonade to raise money for a cure but now;
the chair is empty.
There was a time my daddy fixed his bow tie and mommy looked really pretty and I was handed a microphone to speak why I wanted a cure but now;
the chair is empty.
I was on the front page of the local newspaper for my fund-raising events, thousands of people participated but now;
the chair is empty.
My mommy is sad now, daddy and she hardly speak these days, and the joy of getting ready for those special events don’t happen any more because at my part of the dinner table;
the chair is empty.
Because I am gone my voice cannot cease. My existence cannot be shut out. Because I am gone it can never be that I never was; even though now
the chair is empty.
Scream louder for me now than when I was here, because my story is not how I was able to live but my story is now about how
the chair is empty.
You are not speaking for just me now, you are speaking for all those who might end up like me; people left behind to try to pick up the pieces in a home where
the chair is empty.
So hear my voice from afar, at a time when we all ‘looked like’ nothing was wrong is not the only time to shout the wrong with living with diabetes; it’s all the times when the voices have been silenced that others need to scream the loudest; or it just could turn out that those pretty little dresses; and tiny little gala suits; and those bikes; and those sneakers; and those purchase-at-a register-scannables; those lemonade stands; those garage sales; those lectures at schools; all get taken away and all there is to see is that
the chair is empty.
Another one has passed away. There have been too many empty chairs lately….JUST TOO MANY—-and I’m tired of it and I’m mad as hell; how about you?
I am a diabetes dad
I am adding a PS to this column at 1:10 p.m. EST: I know that we all need to live life in the positive—-many of my articles state that. THIS article is meant to be more than thinking positive; it is more than we need better management tools and a cure quicker; it is more than to stay positive. THIS article is specifically not to forget those silenced voices. EVER! We need to be mindful of another side to this disease. Those that were diagnosed at death–those voices need to ring out loudly to the GP medical and school community-at-large to be on the lookout and do a simple blood test; whatever it takes from the medical text books to the halls of Congress—-DO THE TEST. Those who died from a hypo/hyper while they slept. Remember them. We need to remember these voices; all of them in our battles while we stay focused on the positive and living life to the fullest. This is the point of today’s article. Sort of; ‘never forget’ in the midst of all that we do.
Just wanted to add this point. Thank you. DD
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