It has always been my favorite holiday. The meaning is just……right…..

Ok, ok, there seems to be some lack of clarification about where and when modern day Thanksgiving started, and why. However, its really simple, as far as I’m concerned.

Thanksgiving is just that. A day set aside to GIVE THANKS.

(My dad always told me to keep it simple)

I remember the days when I was young and my family would get together for the holiday. Sometimes we were fortunate to have my Mom’s side of the family travel to see us and spend a couple of days. We didn’t see them much, so the constant movement in the house of Mom, Aunt Pat and Gram making dinner was always the basis of the excitement for the weekend. The smells would fill the house and provide for an aromatic environment which I loved.

Thanksgiving 1982 was one for the books. It’s where my family life got real, real quick. The day after I was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 6.

My family’s reaction?

Mom: I’ve heard of this before, what do we do?
Dad: what is this and what do we give him to get rid of it?
Older Brother(Age 10): thanks for getting rid of him for a while.
Younger Brother (Age 2): well, his age speaks for itself.

The atmosphere in the family changed. Both of my parents were tense, my older brother was walking on egg shells and me? I don’t know, I was home sick for the first night, but after the nurse brought me a snack, I settled right in.

The month of November is Diabetes Awareness Month, but for me, it’s a month of giving Thanks. I’m thankful for having the parents that treated me like a normal kid and forced me to love successfully. They sacrificed many things so that we could afford the healthcare I needed.

I am thankful that I had access to healthcare and was fortunate to have a top notch endocrine taking care of me. From the RN’s, CDE’s and Endo’s, I was well educated and had info when I needed.

I am thankful for the JDRF, and the many volunteers who have sacrificed time, energy and significant dollars to fund research since 1970. This changed the landscape for care, management, lifestyles and long term health outcomes for those living with T1D.

Without all of these, I would not be a healthy adult with a great family. I don’t know where I would be, what I would be doing, or what I would be capable of doing.

I am Thankful.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, so starting the day after Thanksgiving, on my 31st anniversary of diagnosis, I will begin sharing my story of living with T1D. Not the pretty, painted picture I want everyone to see, but the truth……

The good and the bad. The truth.
Through daily living, working, working with my wife to raise our kids, training and chasing my athletic dreams. Try to set a good example for our kids and trying to manage T1D all the while…..so that I can see my kids grow up and enjoy retirement with my wife.

So stay tuned, we’re gonna learn a little and have some fun while doin’ it.

“No one ever finds life worth living – one has to make it worth living.” -Winston Churchill

Lets make somethin’