Invisible Illness...My 30

Because our family lives with invisible illness...and because I saw other D-moms posting this...Here's my 30:

1. The illness I live with is: not my own, but my 14 year old son’s.
   2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: He was diagnosed in 2000 at age 2 with Juvenile Diabetes
   3. But he had symptoms since: He had symptoms for at least 4 months before he was diagnosed.  I really believe he was showing signs for a good 6 months before though.
   4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:  forcing him to learn and do things himself since he IS 14, and not do them for him.
   5. Most people assume: That he doesn’t “LOOK” sick, so he isn’t.  Little do they know that there is a 24/7 battle inside him.
   6. The hardest part about mornings are: getting him to get up and remember to check his blood sugar as soon as he gets up.  Even after dealing with this for 11 years, he still has to be reminded.
   7. My favorite medical TV show is: when it was on, ER.  Sometimes I watch “the doctors” or Doctor Oz. 
   8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: his glucose meter/insulin pump
   9. The hardest part about nights are: going to sleep especially on the nights he’s checked and he’s low, or if he’s been sick. 
   10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
   11. Regarding alternative treatments I: There is NO alternative treatment for Type 1 Diabetes.  You either take insulin via shots or a pump. 
   12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible.  Why?  Because he has an invisible disease, but its manageable and treated daily with his insulin. 
   13. Regarding working and career: I work part time, and my hours/job allows me to take my kids with me.
   14. People would be surprised to know: Im not as strong as I could be. The strength I have is given to me by my God every single day. It is with HIM that I have made it through every day since June 9,2000.
   15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: There is no cure.  It will NOT just go away.  He will have this the rest of his life. 
   16. Something I never thought he could do with his illness that he did was: There’s nothing he can’t do.  He can do ANYTHING he wants to.  He has diabetes but it does NOT have him.
   17. The commercials about his illness: There are NOT ENOUGH commercials that talk about Type 1 Diabetes.  They are mostly for Type 2.  People NEED to know the difference between the two. Because they ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
   18. Something I really miss doing since he was diagnosed is: We use to be really close, but he began to see me as the bad guy—b/c I was always the one doing most of his care and giving his shots in the beginning.
   19. It was really hard to have to give up: We’ve not had to give up much, because the doctors have said to let him eat what he wants, just cover it with extra insulin. 
   20. A new hobby he has taken up since his  diagnosis is:  Rubix cubes—he’s obsessed! LOL
   21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: get up and go about the day without even thinking about Diabetes and the fact that its been in our lives for 11 years now. 
   22. My illness has taught me: His illness has taught me to focus on relying on the Lord to get us through the tough days—because some are harder than the others. 
   23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: “He can eat that?? How can he eat that if he has diabetes?”  Or, “Oh, my grandma has type 2, so I know all about diabetes.”  Um, no, you don’t—type 1 and type 2 are VERY different. 

24. But I love it when people: Tell me that they are proud of how I’ve handled everything over the last 11 years, and that they are amazed at just how strong I am. 
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: 1) Insulin is NOT a CURE.  2)Joshua 1:9
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: That it will be OK.  That God does not give us anything we can’t handle. 
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: the fact that so many people are so ignorant to the FACTS
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Just calling and checking on Colton when he’s sick and asking if there’s anything we need. 
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: My son has an invisible disease that is a constant battle inside him every single day. 

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Like maybe you will gain just a lil bit of insight as to what its like to be the parent of a kid with a chronic illness.