Loss of a loved one to diabetes - Recent Threads

New to Juvenation

Michelle — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:56:05 GMT

I'm new to this, maybe I'm not seeing the posts correctly, but since I didn't see anything, I thought I might introduce myself.

My name is MIchelle Page Alswager and my 13 year old son, Jesse, died unexpectedly on February 3rd after 10 years of this disease. I've always been very involved in the diabetes community and with all of our fighting, I hadn't realized his life could actually be taken. I was doing a bang up job of telling everyone they could survive this disease.

I continue to work hard in the diabetes world to make sure someone else doesn't feel what I feel every day - which I'm sure you are feeling every day as well.

jesse was an amazing kid who continues to inspire others to do good things. I plan to pay it forward.

Michelle

Have a hard time accepting

Lyn — Sat, 29 May 2010 12:50:48 GMT

how I could have missed any symptom's.My bright,funny,charming,handsome 19 yr old son Danny,whom also happened to have Down Syndrome passed away in his sleep 3/28/09 after 2 days of what appeared to be a stomach flu,it was DKA .He didn't have a previous diagnosis of T1 so apparently this was the onset .There was no rapid weight loss,he wasn't drinking huge amounts of fluids or using the bathroom excessively,his teachers noticed nothing unusual either and things happened so very quickly.But still I feel like I as his momma should have known it wasn't just a stomach bug.I've met other parent's with similar stories and they all feel the same feeling of "how did we miss this?"I don't think it's a feeling that ever goes away..the day after the preliminary report I was turning myself in to the ME for having killed my son.I understand every body is different some will have symtoms for a while and other go straight into DKA,some will be worse and live,some not so bad and die..I think if he'd gone into crisis during the day instead of the middle of the night he might still be with us but then again how would his quality of life be affected,so many what-if's.I love my son,he was my angel for so long and then he was just gone and I feel like I failed him,I was supposed to protect him and this time I couldn't,a monster came so much bigger than me.I hope he's happy,dancing with the angels and making everyone smile just as he did in life.♥Just venting,sometimes you have to, to keep from going crazy on this journey

How do you remember the ones you have lost?

Kathie — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:23:58 GMT

Just wondering if there is something you do each year to remember the ones you have lost? I write a letter to my sister each year on her birthday. I keep it until I am ready to let it go...not sure when that will be.

Losing a loved one...

Kathie — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:12:38 GMT

I have to say that I didn't believe people when they said it would get easier but they were right. I am not over it and the pain is still there but at least it doesn't consume me. There are times when I watch a movie and I think of the ones I have lost but more than anythig else.....whenever something significant happens in my life (such as my daughter's diagnosis), I want to pick up the phone and call my sister. It is only then that I realize she is no longer with me. And then I feel like I am losing her all over again. I can't stand the thought of erasing her number off my cell phone. Whenever I have to look up a number I always see hers and it brings a tear to my eye. Sometimes I want to call it and see who answers. I had a panic attack in the cell phone place when my phone broke and they weren't sure it would save my contacts. I was sure her name and number wouldn't be on my phone any more and I couldn't deal with that. They salesman felt so bad that he wrote down the numbers just in case. I know it is silly but I can't seem to let go. She had been gone for 2 years now and everyone has moved on but me. Of course they still have times of sadness but it doesn't compare to my grief. I have started volunteering with different charities and that seems to help.

Today is my son's Bday

Therese — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 05:44:08 GMT

Billy's Bday is Fri Sept 11th. We are hosting a JDRF walk on Sat, Sept 12th. We are expecting several hundred walkers. Most people have registered "verbally". Please visit http://www.walk.jdrf.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=extranet.personalpage&confirmid=87384397 to help out. Or look up "Walkin" for Willz" on the http://www.walk.jdrf.org/ website. We'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks, Bill, Stacey & Erin Howlett

Thinking of everyone I have lost...

Kathie — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:54:48 GMT

Grief if very difficult no matter how someone you love passes. We all have different ways of coping. I am very thankful to everyone here that has listened to me and helped me through. I am doing volunteer work now and it has shown me that this is my best way to deal with grief. I think this is my true calling.....

Hiedi Gilson & Fundraising ideas

Therese — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:31:08 GMT

Marles,

I love the pictures of your daughter, Hiedi. She looks like such a fun & sweet young woman.

And I agree with DDrumminMan, we did find some comfort in organizing a JDRF walk in Billy's memory. We had done some small family walk teams occasionally over the years, but last year was a huge turnout. It was just very nice to see all his friends & family remembering our son in such a positive effort. Billy would have been very proud and happy.

Some organizations that help people with Type 1 diabetes (but I am sure there are more):

JDRF Walk for the Cure raises money to fund the research to find a cure http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=102434

Diabetes Summer Camps help educate kids in daily diabetes management in a fun and informal setting while they get to interact with other kids with diabetes http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-camp/diabetes-camp.jsp

Joslin Diabetes Center is the worlds largest diabetes research center for type 1 or 2 diabetes http://www.joslin.org/

Some other fundraising ideas that we have seen work well: Some friends of Billy's organized a hockey tournament and raised money through the entry fees for a few scholarships for children to attend a Summer Camp for kids with Diabetes. A couple friends solicited and auctioned off prizes donated by local businesses during a golf tournament, another kid who has a music band donated the cover charges and another group of buddies simply held a backyard wiffleball tournament and sold 50/50 raffle tickets.

You can get very creative linking a fundraiser to an interest that represented Hiedi. If Hiedi has friends or family nearby, definitely contact them and ask them to get involved. You may be surprised at how eager they are to help. They may need to find positive ways to remember Hiedi too, and keeping in touch with her friends may bring you all some comfort.

Still thinking of you and here to help you anytime.

~ Therese

Lost my 20 yr old son

Therese — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:56:29 GMT

I lost my 20 year old college son to an "acute DKA" during a pump failure one year ago. Apparently the battery cap was not seated properly. I saw him briefly the afternoon before and he felt he was "just tired" from all the end of semester tests and social activities going on. He went back to his apartment to rest, and by the next morning he was gone. We never knew that DKA could happen so fast. He had diabetes since age 7 and only started using the pump for the last year. I was not as familiar with the pump routine since he got it while away at college. We all thought with the pump he would have much better control and convenience. Now we feel absolutely terrible for recommending the pump, not knowing that DKA could happen so fast and not realizing that he was in trouble when we saw him the day before.

My son was a diabetes camp counselor and mostly had good control. Believe it or not - he had never actually passed out from a low and never had a seriously high BG or ketones. Never an illness or hospital visit since his diagnosis. So he had no experience with DKA symptoms.

I would also be interested to know if anyone has any experience with any similar situations.

Recently Lost Brother to Juvenile Diabetes

lowenthalbl — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:55:39 GMT

2 Weeks ago, my 28 year old brother (and best friend) passed away from Type-1 JD. Most likely was Diabetic Ketoacidocis. Am looking to discuss with anyone that has dealt with a similar situation, and how to best handle the grief and questions associated with this.