A Night to Remember

Jayden, Me, and Regan

 

Have you ever had an experience that was so special, so important that you mentally told yourself, "I want to remember this moment for the rest of my life."  I've only had a few where I physically made myself stop and soak it all in, burn the images into my brain and the feelings into my heart.  Moments that I never want to lose, moments that I want to relive over and over throughout my life.

 

I had several of those moments last night at the JDRF Gala and most of them revolved around two little girls named Jayden and Regan.

 

Elma and I volunteered to work at the event and were given the task of chaperoning all the Youth Ambassadors, young people ranging in age from 7 to 18 who all had Type 1 Diabetes. Our job consisted of knowing where every child was at all times, making sure they were safe (and not involved in any mischief), making sure any severe spikes or drops in blood sugar levels were recognized and dealt with quickly, getting them where they needed to be on time, and keeping them entertained when they weren't needed in the ballroom.

 

As the children and their parents reported to the volunteer room I made an effort to introduce myself, assuring their parents I was knowledgeable to the needs of their diabetic children, the administration of insulin, and treatment of high and low blood sugar levels.  I wanted the parents to have a few hours off, to be able to enjoy the fundraising event, to get a little bit of a break - even if it was only for a few hours. I assured them they would be alerted immediately to any important changes in their child's blood sugar levels and they would be consulted before any actions were taken.

 

All the children were great...every last one of them. There was Brooke with the beautiful long blond hair and a wicked sense of humor, Preston, who (like me) was at his first Gala, Rebecca who has a smile that lights up a room and knew the ins-and-outs of the gala like the back of her hand, and so many other lovely children all dressed up in beautiful dresses or tuxedos. Most of the kids were old pros and had been at many previous galas, a couple were as new and nervous as I was, but I assured them they wouldn't be alone and we would have a lot of fun.

 

About half way through the evening we had some time when all the kids were together in the volunteer room at the same time. As we sat around the table talking I had my first "I MUST remember this" moment.

 

A couple of the girls had been battling high blood sugars that evening and a couple of the kids mentioned challenges they face everyday dealing with the disease, so I decided to redirect the conversation and asked the following question...We all know having diabetes stinks a lot of the time, but can any of you tell me something good about having T1D?

 

Immediately their eyes lit up and their hands shot up in the air, every single child wanting to tell me something positive about having diabetes.  Answers ranged from "When I'm low I get to have Pixie Sticks" to "Well, you get a LOT of attention which is really good if you're the type of person who likes being the center of attention."  We sat for several minutes talking about the blessings that diabetes had brought to their lives...not that any one of them wouldn't give up those blessings in a heart beat to not have to rely on insulin to survive...but it touched me to my very core to see all of the kids talking about the challenges they face with such a positive attitude.

 

My next gotta remember this moment happened when Jayden stood before hundreds of people and gave a speech about her life with diabetes.  Only 7 years old Jayden has lived with diabetes most of her life.  She talked about people mistaking her insulin pump for a phone, about how she relies on insulin to live, about what her life is like with T1D.  It was the first time I've ever heard a child so young speak about having diabetes and when she was done the entire audience was on their feet in a much deserved standing ovation.

 

Next it was time for Jayden's father Steve to tell everyone about the day his daughter was diagnosed. His heartfelt speech had me in tears and transported me back to the night my own daughter was diagnosed. I felt his fear, the overwhelming "air getting sucked out of your lungs" moment when you realize that their little lives are forever dependent on insulin and how nothing will ever be the same for them again.  He spoke of how his 7 year old daughter was forced to become a mathematician and could tell (accurately) how many grams of carbs were on her dinner plate with just a look and could then calculate how many units of insulin she'd need depending on what her current blood sugar level.

 

I had the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with Jayden's older sister Regan, and although she is not diabetic I think she probably knows as much about the disease as I do.  It warmed my heart to see the unconditional love and support she had for her baby sister, the way she took care of her, and the pride that shown in her eyes.

 

I got to chat with Jayden and Regan's mom and dad, Steve and Amy. The are such lovely people and filled with as much love and devotion for their family as I am for mine. Steve especially impressed me because unlike many father's he appeared to know EVERYTHING he needed to know about managing his daughter's diabetes.  He was calculating insulin doses, making sure she ate the proper snack so she wouldn't go low and while doing so was equally attentive to Regan.  I've got to tell you...I was IMPRESSED!  I only wish all D-Dads behaved the same.

 

Amy made just as big impression on me. Arriving a little late because she was taking care of another daughter's needs, when she arrived she made a beeline for the volunteer room to check on her girls. Amy has a smile that lights up a room and her motherly love absolutely radiates from her.

 

I felt a connection with Jayden and Regan, I can't explain it but I will absolutely embrace it. I will never forget walking down the halls holding their little hands, or how excited they became when I told them about my job, or the looks on their face when we were discussing my daughter.

 

The last "don't forget" moment was when all the children were lined up in front of the audience during the last event of the evening...Fund a Cure.  As the M.C. went from child to child having them tell their names, ages, and what they wanted to be when they grew up, I heard their dreams of becoming a doctor, a model, a financial analyst, and I burned their beautiful faces into my brain and thought, "This is it, this is the reason I climb on my bike and train. This is the reason I will travel to Wisconsin during the hottest month of the year and will ride 100 miles in a single day...so these children, these beautiful little souls can one day have a life where they don't have to worry what their blood sugar level is, where they don't have to carry a little bag with all their diabetic supplies, where they have nothing more pressing than studying for a test or worrying about what they want to be when they grow up.  I'm riding for all the kids who have diabetes, all the kids who will one day be diagnosed, and all the non-diabetic sisters, brother, moms, dads, and grandparents who give unfaltering love and support for their diabetic loved ones.

 

So while I'm riding for Brandi I'm also riding for Rebecca, and Preston, and Aaron, and Andrew, and Shannon, and Brooke, and Stephanie, and Claire...and especially for Jayden, Regan, Amy and Steve.