Blog Entries With Tag: Life

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

This blog is dedicated to my Mum – who thought my last blog – The Antidote was written while I was having a hypo.  No Mummy – I was on level playing ground – but just having fun with writing! 

I attended my first Children With Diabetes (CWD) Friends for Life Canada International Conference and Expo in Toronto.  I lucked in on getting on as part of the staff thanks to Jen Hanson  from Connected in Motion, though sadly, because of working, I missed out on some great discussions, which I think is what the adult (and parent) participants rave about.  So, I had no time to get fun photos, etc. but at least I got to schmooze with some of the CWD staff / DRI’s (Diabetes Research Institute) VP Tom Karlya on my first night.  I think he’ll always remember me as the pole dancer wanna be – and an “ancient” diabetic without any complications.  Most people that I met at the conference when we discussed about their child’s diabetes, and I mentioned my diagnosis date, along with my age, they were like Tom, not believing my age.  What can I say?  Good genes (e.g. Levis are my favourite) - as I blogged earlier this year – insulin is a youth preserver.

I think the most rewarding part of this whole event as I felt very much alone as a newbie to the staff as we all didn’t meet up prior to the conference starting so I felt abit like an outsider  – was meeting up with many parents / kids / young adults!   I hope I gave many of the parents I spoke to an insight on how their loved ones will turn out with the right guidance and tools at hand To me, this is what sticks in my mind the most, giving parents hope that diabetes isn’t all bad.  I always wonder how it would have been for my Mum if she’d had the support of others that can now be found on the Internet. 

I did manage to attend the closing one hour speech for about 15 minutes that was given by CWD President Jeff Hitchcock.  I had to walk out of it though due to not liking the push for parents to put their kids on insulin pumps and CGMS’s (Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems).  Maybe because of Jeff being American and that majority of pump users are based in that country, I found it abit too much pushing the product.  Because I was raised on MDI (multiple dosage injections) for most of my 44 years of being a diabetic – it has not caused any problems similar to what he was showing as examples.  Perhaps other discussions that I couldn’t attend over the two days did go into diabetes control by MDI – I hope so – because for many of us – using a pump is unaffordable if you do not have private medical coverage from work/government help.

So, Jeff and or Tom, if you are reading this, consider bringing me in to make a speech to parents next years events as to how having diabetes for my length of time can show that your children will lead healthy and productive lives – I have – diabetes has never stopped me from doing anything I put my mind to!!!  I promise not to do any pole dancing :)


Picture credit below - Nicole Pitre-Cozad from We CARALot Blog

Photo credit - Frank Mannella of Animas Canada

Blog: Anna's Blog

From: FatCatAnna

Blog: It's all about the Bee's Knees

From: spark

Having never undergone any major surgery since I was little, wherein I had been hit by a motorcycle and thereby needed stitches, I was rather curious as to what life would be like post-being cut open.  In my search, I found two rather interesting (and somewhat relevant) articles..

The first is a news article released about an hour ago.  It details a man in Idaho who suffered 10 weeks of pain/stiffness because doctors had left a broken device in his knee during surgery.  Though the event occurred in 2007 and the device was eventually found and removed in 2008, it made news today because a lawsuit was just filed by the patient, naming the two doctors responsible for the mistake (Buoncristiani and Pletcher), the Sawtooth Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (where the two doctors practice), and St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center (where the surgery was initially performed). 

Eep. This article makes you realize that something to think about before undergoing surgery is checking up on your surgeon.  Getting recommendations might be the best way.... Just saying.

Anyways, the second article is much more interesting.  It was a humorous, personal account of life after surgery. The author, Michael Gibbons (managing editor at Aiken Standard) recounts the haze and daze that follows surgery. I found it rather well written and gives you a pretty good idea of what it would be like to come out of surgery.  I can only imagine that "drug-filled haze" would be the best way to describe it.  Anyone else have any thoughts on what it would be like (mentally) to come out of surgery?