Before there was a “Reegan’s Rule”, there was a family. A family, who had all of the dreams any family does. They are a family of faith. They are a family of love. I have never been through anything like what they have been through, and am not sure how I would handle such a tragedy. I am not so sure I would be as full of love as they are, and have been, through everything they have been through.
In the time that I have worked with Reegan’s mom, the discussion started out as her needing help, it surely ended up differently; for Reegan’s Family helped us. They taught us. They taught us that grace by no means reflects weakness. They taught us that faith in what you believe is so much more powerful than defeat. They taught us that pain can be used to drive an initiative as much as, or even more so, than knowledge. They taught us that the word ‘no’ is not an option. They chose to ‘not do nothing’.
Reegan’s mommy sent me the following which I humbly share with you. I’m not sure if she visits the websites where this will be posted so please, and I hope you do, let them know your feelings by replying on this site so they can be sure to read all of your feelings in one location. Here is the letter, to the diabetes community, from Little Reegan’s Mommy.
He Kept His Promise
Now that Reegan’s Rule has passed we have had a chance to think back over the past two years and are humbled at what God has done. Reegan was the joy of our family. Anywhere she went she lit up the room. You just couldn’t help but smile when she smiled. We prayed and fasted for two years and God sent her. Our family was complete. Before she became noticeably sick, she was playing around the house opening and closing doors. One of the doors on a cabinet closed on her finger leaving a bruise.
A couple of weeks later is when we had to take her to the hospital.
She was flown to Chapel Hill and we found out her sugar was over 1200. She aspirated that night and was placed on Life Support.
We cried out to God, please Lord we need to know you are in this situation. Send us a sign that you’re in the midst and that’s when we noticed it. The bruise she received earlier which was under her fingernail had turned into a winky-face.
At the time we accepted it as God saying; “I’m here and I am in control.” Little did we know that this winky -face would be a symbol of things to come. Reegan fought through over 20 procedures for 6 weeks when God decided to call her to Heaven.
At Reegan’s fair-well, a dear friend of mine whispered in my ear, “We will start Reegan’s Rule to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
In my brokenness I heard what she said and those words started haunting me about 6 months later. All I could think to myself was, “God, if this has happened to us, it has had to have happened to someone else.” We did not want anyone else to ‘walk through this”, so we started Reegan’s Rule Petition on Change.org and her page on Facebook.
We were amazed at all of the contacts from parents that had diabetic children that had the same story as us or very similar to it. God gave us that wink and it was a semi colon; which means something comes after this. This is not the end! And two years and 9 days after the day she passed. Her law was passed. Who but God?
As her parents, and family we want to say Thank you. Thank you to every parent who is fighting against diabetes. Thank you to each child who’s bravery continues as you fight. Thank you to those who are fighting for a law like Reegan’s Rule in your state. Thank you to every person who has signed her petition. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for us and given encouraging words. Without God and you we couldn’t have done it. We love each of you and pray blessings over you.
-Reegan’s Family
I am a diabetes dad.Please visit my
Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.
Representative Charles Graham visits with Little Reegan’s Family and presents them with a copy of the law that very well may change the face of the missed diagnosis of diabetes in this country. It was signed into law on October 20th by the Governor of North Carolina.