Comments on: At Least There’s Always Next Year

By: Scott K. Johnson

Scott K. Johnson — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:32:30 +0000

Do you have to make every post you write so good? Damn. It’s like they are ALL jam packed full of powerful stuff. Or maybe it is that they so often resonate with me.

By: Zita

Zita — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:55:09 +0000

The local BIG organization here for Type 1 D probably wouldn’t have responded to your requests either. I’ve asked people on the Board and they’ve told me that the Big Org’s role (as tmana says) is to stay focused on raising money for research and lobbying Congress. They do help organize a few support meetings for people dealing with this disease, but I’ve not been happy with those either. Even though I’ve given them my name/email/address repeatedly, we seldom get notices of the meetings. Therefore, we didn’t get the invitation/meeting info when a local college football player came to talk about the pump – the one meeting my son would have really liked to have gone to. Ugh! I hear you. But good things did come out of it…just look at those pictures and drawings!

By: k2

k2 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:11:28 +0000

Lee Ann-
I’m sorry it didn’t work out the way you wanted to, but you and Hannah did a spectacular job! And on a purely selfish note- I LOVED seeing you guys!
Don’t give up friend!

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:19:01 +0000

I know just how hard you worked to prepare for this event, and I’m so sorry it didn’t go well. it burns me up that they stuck you in the Kid’s Zone. Art is not just for kids!!! Everyone can benefit from expressing themselves with art!!

By: Bernard Farrell

Bernard Farrell — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:51:57 +0000

Lee Ann, sorry that everything didn’t work as planned. And it’s clear you planned a lot. Sometimes these things don’t really jell for a few years. Thanks for the great pictures, especially that last one of the three of you together. I love the hands artwork.

By: Cherise

Cherise — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:25:09 +0000

Leeann-

I am sorry the location wasn’t the best but at least you touched a few people:) I love the artwork! Awesome pic’s! So glad you had the chance to hangout with Hannah and K2.
I am not sure why JDRF refuses to return/keep in touch with Adult t-1’s!!! It bothers me! I’ve been told by my local JDRF chapter “we’ll call you!’ guess what nothing!

By: tmana

tmana — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:14:16 +0000

We had a bit of a discussion about this on Sunday’s Diabetic Rockstar blogrtalkradio… CT was in his ranting prime because he believes that in other countries, the national diabetes association pushes WDD and diabetes awareness month, but not in the US. He also said something to the effect of part of the reason being a pissing contest between JDRF and ADA.

I don’t agree with his conclusions, but the big orgs’ raisons d’être have more to do with funding research and lobbying Congress in favor of the AMA and Big Pharma than with supporting people with diabetes in our everyday lives. Then, too, ADA’s awareness and outreach is often tied to its own expos, its fundraisers, and its conferences — and perhaps direct to communities at-risk.

Largely, I think WDD in the US is more the chance for PWD to get together and celebrate (similar to the celebrations and parades held by Latino-Americans around Columbus Day, Irish-Americans around St. Patrick’s Day, African-Americans around Martin Luther King Day, etc.) than it is a chance to truly raise awareness. Much of this has to do with the prevalance of Type 2 over Type 1 in the US, the differences between diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up between Type 1 and Type 2, and the popular belief that T2’s are invariably individually responsible for having developed diabetes and/or for the diabetes-related deterioration of our conditions.

Until we can unite through our differences, rather than split apart by our similarities, these issues will persist.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:23:38 +0000

“It seems the general consensus is that once a type 1 child morphs into a type 1 adult, JDRF loses interest in us.”

I cannot agree more. And it drives me crazy. I had the opportunity to work with a chapter and I was so happy I got them to include more “grown up” diabetics in their activities. I just don’t understand why they think having LESS people involved would ever be a good idea.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:15:03 +0000

If nothing else, you got to spend time with Hannah and Kelly. But otherwise,

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:14:49 +0000

Great photos – I’m truly sorry that you didn’t get the participation you deserved. Kelly had mentioned the pamphlets that Hannah had and they sounded like a wonderful idea also.