My Son - My Hero

It's Monday and the official beginning of Christmas week at our house.

I spent the weekend driving to and from hockey games, finishing my shopping and hanging with the boys. I am so behind on my blogging so please, bear with me.

Anyway, I decided that the Christmas week posts will be all about my family, Christmas past, new traditions and all that wonderful stuff in my life. There will be no Wednesday Wall Of Shame or any negativity. With that being said (written)I dedicate my today's post to my firstborn baby boy you all know as Hormone Boy (HB).

December 21st 2005 my beautiful baby boy was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.It was the worst day of my life, my 8 year old had to grow up overnight and our family life changed forever.

Lucky #13

On that day sitting in a hospital feeling sorry for all of us Mr. Misery and I decided to make December 21st a Special Day for HB from then on. We wanted him to remember that day and look back every year and see how much he accomplished living with a disability.

Today is 4 year anniversary of Successfully Living with Diabetes....

I wrote many posts about Type 1 diabetes, but today it will be about HB not his disease.

HB has been hands on diabetic from the beginning. He's a smart boy and he knew in order to live he needs to suck it up and deal with it.

Of course we've been through many rough days in last 4 years. There was depression, dealing with bullying, overeating in order to sabotage himself, lots of crying, giving up, not caring what will happen in the morning.

We had seizures, mistreating by teachers when unconscious, mistreating by hockey coaches and minor hockey board directors. We had many hospital emergencies, hundreds of sleepless nights, hundreds of force feeding at 2am to make sure he makes it safely till morning.

We had to deal with most of the children suddenly stopping to invite him to parties, hanging in their houses because it made their parents uncomfortable. We had to deal with loneliness and hopelessness.

Yes, it was a hard journey, but when I look at my son today 4 years later all I see is Strong, Intelligent, Opinionated, Caring, Goofy, Handsome, Healthy, Independent and Loving 12 year old with an Attitude.

Camping & Reading - That's My Boy

He plays hockey, golf and tennis. He loves reading huge novels, computers and traveling. He inherited his mother's love for the finer things in life and he's a budding chef.

Yes, he made it.....today I can say I trust my son 100% to take care of his illness.

HB came a long way in last 4 years. He started with syringe needles, then moved into insulin pens and since April 2009 he is an insulin pumper and doing awesome.

Every summer he spends 10 days in a camp just for children with Type 1 diabetes. That is his time away from us and from reality. He can just be himself and for 10 days a year he is considered "normal".

Every Spring HB starts his fundraising for Juvenile Diabetes which follows with "Walk To Cure" in June where he donates over $1,000.00 he collects from family, friends, his birthday party and our yard sales.

As much as I would love him to be free from diabetes I know this disease made him the person he's today. He had to face diversity and he developed a deep understanding for people who are different. He feels strongly that he needs to stand up for "the underdog".

There are many people in his life he looks up to for help, support, understanding and strength.

He has the best diabetic team a child could wish for.We could not have done this without them. I call them "HB's Angels".

Dr. Lannon is the most caring, funny and encouraging pediatrician out there.She's a one spunky lady.

Mary is his hard-ass, but loving nurse that keeps him on straight and narrow being diabetic herself (bad cop).

Jacquie is his dietitian. Sweet, loving, soft spoken lady who gives him more food every time he needs it (she lets him cheat once in awhile - good cop).

.....and country music star George Canyon....his role model.

HB and George Canyon Summer 2009

George is a beautiful man. He's been type 1 diabetic since he was 14 and he uses his celebrity status to spread awareness of diabetes every where he goes. He takes time out of his schedule and life every year to put on free concerts or Meet 'n' Greet for D-children and their families. He makes the kids feel so special, he gives each of them personal attention. HB met George Canyon twice and every time he meets him he has more respect for him.

As I said it was a hard 4 years, but he came out victorious.

So here's to you my son - my hero. Happy 4Th Year Anniversary!