Please note: If this is your first time visiting our blog, please click here to hear the premise of Pass It On, Baby! and how it all began.... Pass It On, Baby!
It's been a little while since you have heard from Heather or me and I wanted to reach out and tell you how much I have appreciated hearing from families, both those in need and those willing to help. It has been a journey that I am incredibly thankful for that focused on compassion, people helping people and simply put, doing the right thing. I still want to help others where I can and make it a priority in my life, however my focus due to necessity has changed.
It's been a little while since you have heard from Heather or me and I wanted to reach out and tell you how much I have appreciated hearing from families, both those in need and those willing to help. It has been a journey that I am incredibly thankful for that focused on compassion, people helping people and simply put, doing the right thing. I still want to help others where I can and make it a priority in my life, however my focus due to necessity has changed.
Many of you know that I have five children: four boys and a
girl. I am blessed and thankful for all that we have been given and try to
focus on all our positives and they are great. However, things changed
drastically in our lives this past November. My then six-year old son got sick
- very sick - and now will be battling Juvenile Diabetes for the rest of his
life. Here is our story if you have a minute: Riley's Story http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR?px=3221603&pg=personal&fr_id=2359
We are fortunate, he did survive the initial life
-threatening illness and we are back to a healthy child, but our lives have
forever been changed. We worry daily, constantly take his blood sugar, pray
daily for a cure, still cry from time to time, administer shots of insulin
several times a day and deal with calculations, ratios, corrections, etc.
Simply put, our lives, all of them, have changed. But actually, not in a
completely negative way. I found a new strength in educating others, in
reaching out to my congress members, in researching cures and unfortunately,
helping new moms that are also hearing this horrible diagnosis for the first
time. I've been there and every time I help someone else, I am truly healing
myself as well.
We accept what was given, like I said before, we are
blessed. There are many parents praying alongside their child's bedside who
would trade places with me in a heartbeat and I need to have an "attitude
of gratitude." =) We confront the challenges we are given, because they
shape and mold us and make us who we are meant to become.
But at the same time, I wanted to share my story with so
many of you who have reached out and helped, or needed us and I am equally
grateful for this time as well. My hope is that in some way, someone was
inspired by us and knows now that they can start with an email, facebook page
and a blog and forever change people's lives and opinions.
I hope that in the year to come, I will have better balance.
There will be advancements, I will be more at peace with the challenges we face
and maybe then, my focus will again be PIOB. I would love for it to work out
just that way.
In the meantime, if I am speaking to any mother going
through this journey also - you are not alone. And there will be smiles and
hope and happiness again. Please reach out if you need to share or talk. We are
always at: kindness@passitonbaby.com
Wishing you all a beautiful and happy summer and thank you
for caring, sharing and supporting us along the way. Such wonderful people in
this world….and thank you for reading about Riley and loving him, whether you
know him in real life or not in the virtual world. It means the world to us.
On behalf of my baby and my family, it has been such an
honor to meet so many exceptional people. You will stay in my heart forever.
In love and kindness,
