24
24 years, that is, since my beta cells lost their battle with my immune system. I'll be honest with you, I'm tired of it. There, I said it. But I know you understand.
Here's a little dia-versary trivia for you:
The lab bill from the day I was diagnosed with diabetes (6/16/1986): $77.00
The lab bill from the day Jake was diagnosed with diabetes (12/17/2008): $741.00
At least Jake (and Ryan's) doctors had the good sense NOT to suggest that there'll be a cure in 5 years. That's what they told me in '86 and that's what they told my mother-in-law in '68. You got the 5 year estimate, too, didn't you?
posted by Kassie @ 10:55 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I'm not certain, but I don't think I was given (nor my parents) the "5 year" canard when I was diagnosed in 1979.
I remember more of the "normal, healthy life" line, actually, which I guess is better.
But I do remember the first time I got the "5 year lie." It was from a high school science teacher who I respected. He told me about a son or nephew or some such relation doing exciting work on finding a cure and that it was "just around the corner."
You have to wonder whether the people who spout this cruel joke might actually believe it. They just might not have the same wisdom that cumulative years of cynicism imparts.
Anyway...
Hang in there. I'm tired too.
I was diagnosed in 1988 and got the five year comment for a good ten years. I needed to believe it in 1988. Now I just get frustrated and feel jaded. I'm not sure which reaction I prefer! I'm not looking for a cure and probably wouldn't take it if they come up with something... I usually choose the known over the unknown.
Happy dia-versary!
From your use of English I am going to assume you are either Canadian or American. From your horrific lab bill, I am going to narrow that down to American. What happens if you don't have $742? Does you son go undiagnosed? Here in Australia, the test is just three blood tests and a bottle of sugary soft drink (soda) - I hope they're not charging that much for that!
I was diagnosed Feburary 2, 1972. My doctor told me he had good news and bad. He told me the good news was I didn't have to worry about being drafted and going Viet Nam. The bad news was I had a rich mans illness. I was admitted to the hospital for a week and was taught how to give myself an injection by using an orange. It was before glucose testing meters. I had to test my urine by peeing a little into a testtube and dropping in a tablet, waiting and then matching the color with a chart. I do remember the five year cure thing some years after that. Now, when I hear the lastest cure coming soon thing, I shrug it off. I was 16 when I got this and I am now 56. 40 years is a long time and it has been a loooong hard road for the kid. I do hope that a cure will come. It may be here now. But far too much money is being made on controlling, and if a cure was to be found, there would be a lot of reasons NOT to push it because of the money being made on just controlling it.
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