Feels like yesterday

I am blessed to have people in my life I can go to with anything — my parents, my friends, my family. But the girls you see below — these girls are my lifeline. I’m not sure I’d be here today without them.

I’ve called these women friends since meeting them at a diabetic camp in Tennessee 15 years ago. Through my high school years, I worked as a counselor at TCDC in Chattanooga. My memories of camp are incredibly special because it’s a place that changed my life. As a teenager, diabetes was a bitter subject mainly because it made me different and sometimes caused me to stand out. I resented diabetes for several years and even ignored it at times. But these friends have been an amazing part of my life for 15 years now and have gotten me through some tough times.Camp was special for each of us in different ways, and for me, it helped me gain ownership of my diabetes. It was no longer an excuse or something I resented. I took responsibility and it changed my perspective completely. It’s hard to wallow in something when you are no longer the only one struggling.

It’s hard to explain what it means to have friends with diabetes. I remember returning home after my first year of camp and telling my mother, “I felt normal for the first time.” All these years later, I still feel that when we’re together. This photo only displays a handful of us — there are so many more who couldn’t make it to Nashville.

We’re all scattered across different cities and states. Some are married. Others have babies. But with all our differences, one thing remains… when we’re together, time elapses and it feels like yesterday. For three hours last Saturday, we laughed about camp memories and the (many) ridiculous stories you’d only believe because you witnessed them first hand. We caught up on life beyond what’s seen on Facebook. We shared our triumphs and were honest about the places where we struggle. We struggle differently, but we struggle all the same.

We talked about the scary parts of diabetes; we talked about fears and doubts. We dreamed of a cure, of technologies we hope for. We talked about research and what’s coming down the line. We laughed about common misconceptions and shared a few “diabeetus” jokes. We bared our souls as is only possible with people who truly understand. It’s not simply a camaraderie; it’s a bond. Fifteen years is a long time to call someone a friend, but the beauty of those 15 years is how we’re all happy and healthy adults living with type 1 diabetes. We’re smart; we’re strong; we’re accomplished.

If you’re a parent, please consider camp for your child. Don’t hesitate. Even if life is smooth now, there will come a time when it will be hard — when your child needs someone who gets it in a way you can’t. Those moments require a different type of friend. The benefits of camp are endless — better management, new friendships, an appreciation for self, fun memories, lasting bonds, updated technology… the list goes on.

The women you see above are friends in the truest sense of the word. I wouldn’t be here today without many of them, and I can’t wait to see where the next 15 years take us. We are an impressive group of advocates — for ourselves, for our children and for others who will come behind us.

TCDC in Tennessee (where I worked and where I highly recommend!)
Camp Seale Harris in Alabama