What am I Doing Here?……..for Kycie, for Reegan……the Fight Goes On!

Kyce ReeganThis is the question I asked myself as I looked at the many attendees at the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) Annual Meeting who stopped in to the presentation of the incredibly knowledgeable Susan Weiner and myself at our missed diagnosis of T1D.  People believe that speaking in front of a large crowd is easy for me, in reality it is not, for reason that those who are close to me understand.  It is even more daunting when the audience is full of professionals.  REALLY SHARP PROFESSIONALS.

The week before I was to speak I reached out to two parents who lost their child to this disease being misdiagnosed and to fill them in on what was happening. It is always a stark reminder to me that this work should not, and will not, stop for me until the paradigm is changed to a direction where each and every person showing stomach virus like symptoms (and more) are checked for elevated blood sugars.

What makes it easier for me to present is when I reflect on each and every person I have met in this battle who has a child who and is no longer here because a simple blood check was not done.  I also reflect on the many people who have joined this fight, and have been in this fight, long before we have arrived where we are today…….but make no mistake; the surface is barely scratched.

Presenting at AADE allowed a very unique opportunity.  Hopefully, and eventually, every state will hear the message and carry the banner.  The list keeps getting longer of those who help and when it comes to AADE, Susan has been my mentor and guide through the maze of people more educated than I could ever become and true community leaders.  My thanks to her are endless.

I also know I have a story to tell……..and as long as I have a breath in me, the story will continue to be told………it’s owed that much energy, and more, to Kycie, Reegan, and the so many more who can no longer fight for themselves.  Are you still in the fight? Because we surely need everyone willing to spread the word.  Let’s not wait for the next Kycie or Reegan to happen to say, ‘this is horrible’.  Let’s get rid of ‘horrible’.
I am a diabetes dad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

NEWSBREAK: The Story of (Kisses for) Kycie; from her Mom and Dad

kycieElizabeth Stein was diagnosed with T1D at age 10.  Elizabeth did not like to dance, Elizabeth LOVED to dance.  In 2000, as a neighborhood fundraiser in her Orlando community, she created Dancing for Diabetes.  Diabetes would stop her…..from nothing.

Elizabeth holds her event every November, this year’s being number 16, to better the awareness of diabetes.  I will write about the event in an upcoming article, but something happened at the event that I would like to share with you and Elizabeth, wanted me to share it as well.

Each year, at the start of the second act, young people, all with diabetes, present a dance number especially for them, this year there were 24 kids showing diabetes as Elizabeth has, will stop them from nothing….and dance they did.

The second act always begins with a video to make her audience better aware of an aspect of diabetes. Her awareness this year was about the missed diagnosis of T1D.
She interviewed some people about this and I was fortunate to be included.  We knew what it was about, but was not told the entire story.  You see Elizabeth also flew to Utah and interviewed the parents of Kycie, who we all knew from Kisses for Kycie.

This is 16 minutes long and be aware; it’s not an easy watch.  But PLEASE know this; Kycie’s parents do not want this story to end, they want it to begin.  They want, just as Reegan’s parents want, the world to know and to be aware of diabetes.

Yes, get angry, and surely feel free to cry; but when it’s over also know that you can help accomplish what Kycie’s parents want, what Elizabeth wants, what Reegan’s family wants—-to spread the word about T1D being missed as a diagnosis.  Without anything further, I present Elizabeth Stein’s story regarding Kycie.  Click Kycie’s picture to begin the video.

I am a DiabetesDad.
Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.