Loss.

My last post was about inspiring someone with the same disease I have to live with my entire life.  This one is in memory of someone who inspired me, a true friend whose beautiful smile and kind soul will be truely missed.

This song seems appropriate right about now...and goes out to Chelsey Horne.  Chelsey was the first staff member I met (through email and Facebook) from my amazing, inspiring summer at Bearskin Meadow Camp in the summer of 2007.  I didn't know until after I left camp that she was struggling with melanoma, and would continue to battle it until early this morning.  She was also, like me, a Type 1 diabetic, but through these two hurdles in her life, I never heard her complain.  A smile remained on her face and her attitude was always positive.  She was one of the funniest people I knew, and her love of life shown through.  She in fact, had so much love for so many people in her short life.  Here's to you Chelsey, I will always cherish the time we spent together under the Sierra skies and even though I didn't know you as well as most people, the BMC summer of '07 holds so many memories true for me, and I don't think I would've had the time of my life if it weren't for your stories and passion for BMC. I'm blessed to have known you. <3


Johnny's Song-Cross Canadian Ragweed


What is life it could be a million
It could be a single dime
Or it could be a ship out on the water
But to me it's just more time
Time for the one who moved a hundred mountains
Time for the one who broke a thousand chains
For the love of a son and a mother
A little girl sweet as sugar cane

What is love it could be a river
Love's a single drop of rain
But to her love is forever
It's the mention of your name
What is love there's more than just one answer
Love's a golden wedding ring
If only love could be the cure for cancer
Then the world would hear you sing

What is faith
Faith is believing
Faith can tell you where to go
You say faith can move a thousand mountains
Faith can liberate your soul
A heart of gold will take you to the rafters
Where you get your angel wings
Don't cry for me are the words that are coming
From your golden guitar strings

What is life
It could be a million
What is love
There's more than just one answer
What is faith
Faith is believing...

Me?! Inspiring?

I'm an avid Zumba fan.  Today I was walking out of class and this woman named Dottie said "So I see you have an insulin pump...well my daughter has one too."  This is a rarity in my small Arizona city, as only a handful of people in Flagstaff have it.  She proceeded to tell me that her daughter was a T2 on a pump and had spent 3 weeks in a coma from ketoacidosis. She now has some permanent brain damage, but has started to exercise more and is trying to take care of herself.  Dottie then said that she had noticed the site in class on Thursday and told her daughter about it and then said that I was a little inspiration for her daughter.  As a 23 year old T1, about to celebrate 15 years with diabetes, I was flattered.  This comment proved to me that I'm not only not alone in this world, but the littlest things can inspire other diabetics...I continued to show them the Dexcom CGM and Dottie was also surprised to see that I put my site in my arm.  We all have bad days with diabetes, but comments like this make me realize how unique and different I am, and I'm truely fortunate to have a loving and caring support system behind me.  There is nothing greater than to hear the words that you inspire someone with a disease that can be so tough to live with. :)