As I begin a new job this week, I’m pleased to have several friends standing in so my website doesn’t go barren. It’s also a great way to share some other diabetic blogs you may not have seen before. Today’s blog is from April who blogs over at Nerdy April’s Space Adventures (and she lives in Huntsville so she’s a friend in real life). In April’s own words, she’s an astronaut hopeful and type 1 diabetes blogger – in that order. Her astronaut quest began when she was 5 years old. Just like every other kindergartner, she dreamed of becoming an astronaut; but unlike most, the dream never changed to baseball player, doctor or rock star. she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 11, and quickly turned her bad luck into a challenging goal: becoming the first diabetic in space! Now, she is an Aerospace Engineer working for the Army in Flight Test. Oh yes, and she is still interested in being an ASTRONAUT!!! ** Feel free to call her anytime, NASA.

I wouldn’t say that I am the “ideal” diabetic.

If we are getting real honest here, my A1c has never been below 7, I struggle with my weight and my cholesterol, and while I would like to swear to my endo that I test my blood sugar 5+ times a day, the truth is, those days are the minority. I don’t have my re-order dates memorized, my “Diabetes” closet is less than organized, and my Diabetes-related blogging is never punctual.

But I do have ONE thing figured out about this disease: it is harder to break its boundaries then live within them… but the rewards far outweigh the constant, sometimes overwhelming, battle. And while many diabetes boundaries are subjective, the ones I have faced over the last two years have been line-in-the-sand, no kidding, rule-abiding boundaries, like this one: “An applicant who uses insulin for the treatment of his or her diabetes may only be considered for an Authorization for a third-class airman medical certificate. An applicant with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus controlled by use of a medication may be considered by the FAA for an Authorization of a Special Issuance of a Medical Certificate.”

It turns out my job as a civilian Flight Test Engineer for the Army requires me to obtain and maintain an FAA Class 3 Medical Certificate. I knew this going in, and so did my coworkers, but I never imagined how difficult it would be to prove I was worthy to fly on special operations Army helicopters.

I will spare you the painful and numerous details (which include sending for ALL of my diabetes-related medical paperwork from my doctor in Arizona, taking the most in-depth eye exam ever [3+ hours of tests] and getting nearly half-a-dozen rejection letters asking for me to do more “proving”).  I got discouraged. I cried. And I wondered why I had even made the decision to move 1600+ miles just to fail at my first real engineering job. I saw everyone else performing flawlessly. It hurt to hear them complain about the 15 minute Airman Examination which granted them the certificate I was fighting so hard for. Graciously my coworkers kept encouraging me, and I kept the FAA’s medical certification phone number on speed dial.

It took over six months, five certified mailings, several endo appointments, blood samples, peripheral eye tests, countless phone calls, constant prayer and loads of hope.

But I did it.

Little old April, the diabetic, was now a real, full-fledged Flight Test Engineer. I was giddy with excitement as I suited up for my first flight. I carefully placed my diabetic goodies within the convenient pockets, donned my dog tags which were inscribed with “Type 1 Diabetic”, tested my blood sugar and hopped aboard a very special Chinook helicopter. I honestly could not believe I had “made” it. The FAA and all of its rules were in the extreme aft of my brain as I stared out the window high over the Pennsylvania landscape.

It was a momentous moment for a girl who had dreamed of being an astronaut her entire life (even before D came along); but the experience really stretched so much further. It was a special moment for the D-community and everyone that followed my saga on my blog and in person. WE had won. WE had broken the barrier. Together, WE continue to prove that WE CAN do anything we set our minds to.

So, the final question…was it all worth it? You bet your rotor blades it was!!! I have now logged over 60 flight hours as a Flight Test Engineer, successfully performing my job AND keeping Diabetes in it’s happy place 😉

My sincere thanks to Victoria for not only being a DOC friend, but a real-life friend too! Your encouragement and pure honesty have lifted my spirit more times than I can count. You are truly an inspiration!!

Oh thanks April! Now it’s my turn to say how proud I am of her! I met April through a mutual friend (@Arnold_and_Me), but it was after she had become a Flight Test Engineer. I’ve heard about her struggles, and I can only imagine living through them. I bet that triumph was something else! Had I been around, there would’ve been cupcakes involved. I know one day, she’ll show up at Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center in a blue space suit on the astronaut tour sharing stories about space. I can’t wait! In the meantime, you can follow April’s blog here and on Twitter @nerdyaprilblog.