Why I Ride is a series of stories from people and families with a connection to T1D. I ride for myself, but there are thousands of others I ride for as well, many whose stories won’t necessarily be told publicly. This series is an attempt to share a few of those families with you. Supporting JDRF is a noble and worthy cause for many people. You can support JDRF through my Burlington ride here.
This is my beautiful friend, Shelley. She was diagnosed with T1D when she was a child, and we met at TCDC. (You should look that up and send your T1D kids!) We ended up at MTSU together for a couple of years, and when I landed back in Nashville two years ago, our friendship picked right back up where it left off.
Shelley and her beautiful family are another reason Why I Ride. As a T1D, pregnancy is considered high risk. While it’s not quite the fate of Shelby in Steel Magnolias (thanks mostly to research from organizations like JDRF), there is still a significant and increased risk of complications. Women with T1D often see doctors who specialize in high-risk pregnancies. (My own endocrinologist is one of the leading doctors in her field specializing in T1D pregnancies. I sought her out knowing that when the time comes for this part of my life, I’ll be older and at an even great risk.)
Pregnancy is a legit fear and can be scary for healthy women. For those of us with T1D, it’s another beast entirely. Monday, this beautiful friend of mine gave birth to her third beautiful and healthy baby. Throughout all three of her pregnancies, she had minor complications and ended up on bedrest toward the end of her 40 weeks. But all three were born healthy and with a grateful and happy Shelley.
I love to ride my bike because of what it does for my body and my health. I love to participate in JDRF rides because it gives me an opportunity to educate others about life with T1D and to fundraise for an organization like JDRF. I ride for friends like Shelley, who don’t let statistics or possibilities keep her from living a full life. Friends like Shelley who show the world what can be done with T1D, not without. I ride for all my female friends with T1D who’ve given birth. I ride for those who haven’t, though they desperately want to. I ride for those who long for childbirth, but aren’t able to experience it.
Steel Magnolias got it wrong. Thanks to research and advancements in therapies and technologies, the world isn’t the same place today. My future looks different than it did at my diagnosis 22 years ago. For that, I’m grateful. This is Why I Ride.