Tag: Sierra Sandison

I had this thought (that surprise you?).  For the last few months I have watched as Sierra Sandison, Miss Idaho, Miss America-top-online-vote-getter; as she shouted from the mountain tops about having diabetes while she competed for the Miss America crown.  Took a lot of guts to do that, didn’t it?

Not easy to go out there and say, I wear an insulin pump.  It became a big deal to our community.  Our kids became inspired.  Our kids, in some instances felt….well…less different.  Diabetes in the national spotlight was such a bold move.  We all saw it and thought how wonderful.

Now take it to your living room.   If the media made such a big deal about Sierra having diabetes and wearing the pump, and ‘showing the world’; know that your child does this same thing every single day.

But without the fanfare.

If we thought it was such a big deal that someone would take ‘this diabetes thing’ to a level of showing the world……think, for just a second, what they go through everyday showing the world…..that it is okay.  They make it okay.

Yes it’s brave to go out there like Sierra did, we all said it, we all came together and voted for her to prove the point.  We as a community voted her into being a finalist.  We voted.  But yet, our kids do it every single day, don’t they?  They ‘go out there’.  They get little for their efforts, they are just being a kid.  They put it out there every day.

Don’t let a person in the limelight be the only ‘thunder’ your child with diabetes hears.  In between the million questions of ‘what was your number’, ‘write your number down’, and being the diabetes police we are every day……remember they do what Sierra does every day also.  They just do it without the possibility of winning a crown.

What Sierra did was terrific………what all people with diabetes do every day…..is no less than heroic.

Let them know.  Give them your vote……every day.

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.

Ok, The Miss America Competition is over and Sierra Sandison did not win…….or did she?  I guess the first question one needs to ask is; “What is your definition of win?”  At the end of the night, did she wear the crown?  If that is your definition: no she did not win.

I have a different definition of win and in my book and if you ask me (and many others), this young lady is about as big a winner as one would ever find.  It’s my understanding that she was very hesitant to speak broadly of her diabetes back when this all started.  It is easy to do nothing, say nothing.  It is hard to take a stand.  After consulting with many, including our community’s very own Miss America, Nicole Johnson, Sierra rethought her platform and decided to come out fully discussing her diabetes.  Even as far as wearing the pump, VERY VISIBLY, during the swim suit competition.

HEY WORLD……..LOOK!!!!!!!!

It is my hope that this new attitude helps her.  I hope it translates to her taking the best care possible; this is my hope.  What I KNOW is that by her actions she has helped countless people out there (probably mostly kids) to say, “Hey, if she is okay, I am okay.”  And THAT is a winner.

Helping others is always a winner.

Now we can stay idle here and not say anything…..but it is my hope that we all take the time—in fact, let’s over-fill Sierra’s email box with congratulatory letters thanking her for her efforts.

Here is her email for Miss Idaho, which she will remain for this year:
missidaho2014@gmail.com

Take the time to drop her a quick note and congratulate her on giving more attention to T1 diabetes than we have seen in some time.  She did not have to do that, but she did.  And on any day of the week, that is a winner in my book.  Let her know.

I am a diabetes dad.

Please visit my Diabetes Dad FB Page and hit ‘like’.