Envelope Stuffing for JDRF Central Pennsylvania

Last Friday I helped stuff envelopes for the JDRF Gala event here in Central Pennsylvania. The local chapter office is pretty near my home and I thought it was a great opportunity to do something to help as well as meet other T1D families.

Then I met Lyle. He is 66 years old and was diagnosed with T1D during his sophomore year of college at Penn State University almost 50 years ago!

You recall my last post about getting thoughts on diabetes honeymoon, right? Well, I jumped at the chance to talk to the other two volunteers about theirs. Lyle had never even heard the term. And the other volunteer said her son had been diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago and he was still producing some insulin! I was ecstatic. Actually, hopeful is a better word for what I was feeling. I announced that it would be our family goal, I'm sure if we really tried we could make this honeymoon last another year...(I do realize that trying and wishing has nothing to do with how long the pancreas produces insulin).

Then Lyle said that he was also still producing some insulin...after 50 years! I don't know what that means, but it was a wonderful conversation and Lyle gave me permission to share his story here on my "brand new" blog. He was wrestling at Penn State and during a routine physical they found not exactly right blood glucose numbers. He was about 18 years old at the time. The campus doctor told him that most doctors would not immediately put him on insulin, but that she thought it would help save the pancreas function that still existed. That was 1964.  Lyle just got a pump last year and loves it.

Honeymooning-diabetes style

I love the honeymoon. I hate diabetes but at least we're being slowly lowered into the depths. How long does it last? Everyone is different, right?

I've noticed from all the D-blogs I obsess over (as in locate their diagnosis story and cry) that the younger the child is diagnosed, the shorter - if any at all - the honeymoon lasts.

Riley had just celebrated his 13th birthday a month earlier. Now we're almost to the 6 month mark.

It's Been Too Long

I began this blog as a result of an outcry from friends and family who wanted to know the status of my dad's health after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer back in 2007. It was difficult to even look at this blog after he died on June 2, 2009 ( see below).

But now I'm a blog-reader addict. And every now and then I get so inspired by the stories I read-mostly Type 1 diabetes blogs - that I want to revive my original blog and start again.

So here it is. Wish me luck!

On June 2 at 10:30 pm Bill Ennis left this earth and promptly arrived in Heaven. II Corinthians 5:8 ...to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Billy, Natalie, Glenda, Tim and Bonni were all here to wish him well on his journey. Our sadness is beyond words but our joy is overwhelming-the suffering is over.

Thank you all, friends and family, for your love and support for us and for our dad and husband.

-Bonni, Billy and Glenda

Today, we enjoyed an afternoon baseball game -watching Riley hit the best game ever!

Thank you all for your continued prayers and visits.

Happy Mother's Day!

We've hit the 2 month mark that Bill and Glenda have been in Pennsylvania. We have enjoyed all the guests that have come to visit from Ohio, Virginia, New York and Maryland. One of our favorites is (not so) little Liam pictured here with the proud Grand-dad.

The Latest from Glenda

This is our 5th week in Pennsylvania. We are being spoiled rotten by Bonni and Tim. It's wonderful to be close to family with the grandchildren running around. Billy, Natalie and Liam come often to visit on weekends since we live much closer to them now.
The good news is Bill seems to be responding well to the new environment here. A recent blood infusion gave him a boost of energy. He went to his first captioned movie last week and we all enjoyed our local Mexican restaurant together on Valentine's Day.
Hospice comes often and their goal is to bathe Bill-but his goal is not be bathed by someone else! He is perfectly capable of taking care of himself. When the aide's plans fail, they help Glenda tidy up their 'cottage'.
Glenda reads every book available and has found a morning ritual coffee place that suits her just fine. She is looking forward to planting a little garden in the back yard when spring comes. Bonni and I have been enjoying the farmer's market every Friday. It has a touch of the Amish tradition and makes me feel welcomed to Pennsylvania. They have the best pies in the world as well as donuts, lemon bars, eclairs and so on...We pick out something special for Bill each week.
We are much closer to all our Northern Virginia and Maryland friends again. We really enjoy the visits.