Look for the helpers
We have been blessed by some pretty amazing caregivers in our lives, and the nurses we've had certainly top the charts. Last week was National Nurses Week, and in honor of that I'd like to thank the amazing men and women who selflessly watch over my T1Ds.
Nurse David: When Walker was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago we were in my hometown in Maine. The hospital is tiny and everyone seems to know everyone. Walker was nervous, Marshall was heartbroken, and I was scared. Nurse David, as we forever refer to him, was like an angel. He had a thick Australian accent and seemed completely out of place in those backwoods of Maine. He was calm, comforting, and just the right amount of funny. He was exactly what we all needed. The following year we would often tell stories about Nurse David and wonder how he was doing. On Walker's first Diaversary she planned to paint him a picture and make him a cake. We got everything ready and went to the hospital ER, painting and cake in hand. When we asked the clerk if we could see him, she looked at us with a blank stare. She said nobody by that name worked there. We described him: tall, handsome, Australian. Finally she remembered and said he had only been there for a very short time, and must have been there for a summer temp job before traveling on to another job somewhere else in the states. It seemed fitting for our stories of him and the fact that he almost seemed too good to be true. Maybe he truly was an angel.
Miss Tavia: The nurse at the Barbara Davis Center is fantastic. She's the first person we see after stopping at the lab for A1C collection. Everyone who goes to the BDC knows Miss Tavia, there's no way to forget her. She has a way of making everyone smile and feel at ease by dancing and telling stories. A visit to the BDC wouldn't be the same without Miss Tavia.
Judy: Marshall has had a whole slew of undesirable caregivers. He used to dread doctor's visits for fear of judgement and their poor bedside manners. That was until he met Judy. Judy, who is also Type 1, seemed to get it. She spoke to Marshall like a person rather than a chart of blood sugar logs and A1c values. She listened to his questions and worked with him to find the answers and reassured him that it's a continual work in progress. She could relate to the daily struggles and imposed no judgment. Judy completely changed the way Marshall approached his diabetes care.
Suzy: Suzy is one of the nurse's aides at the kids' school. There have been some scheduling changes this year and Suzy started taking over Ollie's care around mid-year. She's been great with Ollie; Suzy has a crazy funny personality and gets Ollie to come out of his shell, even if it's just for a second before he disappears again. She has encouraged him to speak up and stand up for the things that he needs. I have watched Ollie become more confident this year, due in no small part I'm sure to Suzy.
Nicole: Nicole has been our Godsend. She has watched over Walker since she started Kindergarten 3 years ago, only weeks after her diagnosis. She is the epitome of calm, collected, and comforting, not only for Walker but for me too. When I first thought about sending Walker to school after her diagnosis my thought was "no way in hell", and then I met Nicole. She is Walker's safe place at school and my safe place when I know they're in her care. She has shown me that the kids can be "normal" kids. She anticipates lows and levels out highs. She has their schedules memorized and knows what the kids need before they go to recess, out for PE, or into a test. She is our liaison with teachers and administration and helps draft Ollie and Walker's 504 plans. She plays "bad guy" when a teacher violates a 504, and advocates for the kids when their best interests aren't being met. When teachers and parents at school say "you wouldn't even know they have diabetes", Nicole is to thank. She pulls the strings and works the gears every second of the day, and at 3:30pm Ollie and Walker run to me just like all the other kids, with stories of the playground and fun things they've learned. They are normal kids thanks to the tireless work of Nicole, our real-life angel. I wish every kid with T1D had their very own Nicole. She is amazing.
I'm sure we'll come across many more wonderful nurses in our T1D journey. Thank you to all the nurses out there, you make such a difference in our lives.
