Ignorance & closed mindedness!
Like I said, deep. So let's get to it.
I didn't think that at 2 years old, my baby girl would be shown any form of discrimination. I use this word somewhat loosely, as I am not even sure what to call what I have seen recently. Discrimination just seems to be the first term that comes to mind.
When we are out at the store, and someone approaches us asking questions about Izzy's insulin pump or her CGM, I don't ever think twice about taking the time to educate them. I hope that by me doing this small deed of education, maybe it'll open up their eyes. Recently, I educated a cashier, who after having what I would call was a good informative conversation, took about 100 steps back and stated she couldn't be diabetic because she loves her chocolate too much. Thanks to that Safeway gal, I was rendered speechless. As if my 2 year old had a choice in the matter, she just woke up one day and said I don't like chocolate I am going to be diabetic. Oh you silly woman. Truth be told, I should walk away from all the instances of ignorance and move on to those times when I got through to someone and week after week we saw them and they'd continue to use the knowledge as power to educate others (my BFF from Target Maria - LOVE her to pieces - okay it helps she gives Izzy stickers every time we see her). But instead I do stay somewhat fixated on how dumb people can be.
After Izzy was diagnosed, the people who reached out were not necessarily those I expected. The ones who didn't reach out, that is what hurt the most, they were the ones I expected to stand beside me. Most of those who didn't reach out, I have no idea where they are today. People I hardly knew, but only through acquaintances or co-workers wives, reached out, touched base, sent words of wisdom to get us through. Although some I (to put it frankly) suck at staying in touch with, I still appreciate those little acts. The person who delivered a bag of items I never would've thought would help us get through a 5 day stay in the hospital. I didn't think of a notebook, coloring book and Breathsavers as so important, but it was. The person who came out to the JDRF One Walk for Team Izzy, but didn't know anyone else there, and brought along her family to show support for my baby girl that she had only met once. The neighbor who made us meals because we hadn't slept in days. Let me say, these things stick with you. No matter how much time in between talking to these people, they made a difference in our lives then.
The true reason for this blog post is that I never thought closed mindedness would lie within those I associate myself with. I could rant on for days about this... but today I am here to vent, let it out, and hope that this blog serves as a form of therapy.
My 2 year old recently has been excluded from activities with other kids she used to play with. We have seen a decline in family friends inviting us for gatherings. And then it hit us - okay me! - like a brick to the face, through the grapevine it was rumored that no one knew what Izzy could or could not do, or eat, or if she was healthy enough... so her diabetes stopped the friendships, and has curbed relationships I thought we were building on.
It hurts. I suppose I expected it to happen when she was school age and other kids parents didn't understand. But not now. I mean, really?!?
My child can and will do great things. She loves to dance, sing, play in her kitchen, color on the walls (okay, eat the crayons from time to time), climb onto the dining room table, watch Sesame Street while she shrieks "Elmo!". My baby girl can do ANYTHING she wants to do. And I will continue to let her. She can eat what she wants (within reason, I do keep it fairly healthy around here!) - I just have to give her insulin. Yes I am a hot mess when we go out, counting carbs can be tedious, but I do go out. We try to give Izzy some sense of normalcy.
Izzy is not, and will never be, a victim. She is a warrior. Izzy is my hero.
