Diabetic Recipes
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Ever since I was little, my mom has always told me that there was a reason behind my diabetes. I've always believed her and hoped that one day I would realize what the reason was. When my other health conditions developed, we had the same conversation. There was a reason behind my health problems.
Occasionally, ideas pop into my head. Sometimes I think I know, but mostly I feel that I have no clue what's behind all my health problems. It all seems so pointless. There is one consistent theme throughout the ideas in my mind though.
For the longest time, I've known that I needed to be a mother. Kids were part of my calling. I was meant to pass something on, but I have no idea what that something is. I just know that it's one of things I have to do with my life.
Diabetes has always been in the back of my mind when I think about kids. Not only is it a risk of passing on the disease, but it's also a risk to my life in getting pregnant. Diabetic pregnancies aren't easy, controlled or not. And I'm well aware of those risks. Plus, diabetes could make it impossible for me to get pregnant to begin with, even though that's less likely at this point.
My other health conditions complicated the idea of kids even more. They add more risk and complications into getting pregnant. There are potential genetic issues that might be passed on. These health conditions greatly raise my infertility rates, so I might try for years to get pregnant, only to realize that it's not going to happen at all.
I still believe my mother that there is a reason behind this. And I'm listening to the ideas in the back of my mind more closely now. The one thing that sticks: adoption. Not just general, healthy baby kind of adoption, either.
Maybe I'm supposed to adopt diabetic children, or kids with other chronic illnesses. I understand them. I can relate and help them cope. So maybe my call to motherhood is more specific in that I'm supposed to be a mom to the ill because I've been there.
I've looked into the resources offered to find potential adoptees with chronic conditions. I wish there were greater resources out there because I can't seem to find very many. Or even resources on fostering kids with chronic conditions so that their transition is a little easier because someone else understands one aspect of life.
Ultimately, I wish there were resources out there so that more people would realize that adopting chronically ill kids is just as important as adopting healthy babies. It's like the commercials pushing people to adopt older children and sibling groups. Where are the commercials raising awareness for the diabetic kids? the epileptic kids? the blind kids?
Lindsey,
My husband and I adopted a little baby with multiple handicaps, blind and epileptic also. He is now 9 years old and still like a newborn. It has been the most incredible experience of my life! I knew when I was younger than you that I wanted to adopt a handicapped child, or have one. You are on to something special. Don't give up the dream...it will play out in your life. The challenges of being a diabetic mommy to a very medically fragile child are many(yes, we've done seizures and blood sugar lows at the same time many times!), but we are doing fine! I'm getting a website for you that specializes in placing handicapped kids....there is such an organization, and we support it fully. Should I email you off list?
Mousie
Wow, Mousie, I had no idea! That's amazing! Please do send me the website. I'm not sure if you can access my email address through here and unfortunately, I can't post it. I can either get your email address or you can post the website here in the comments. Thanks for letting me know!
I am in the process of adopting a boy with Type 1. I have T1 for 19 yrs and my husband and I were on the healthy infant track from China when we found out about this little guy. My husband is blind in one eye and we looked at the list of "Waiting Children" and realized that if we were orphans we would be considered "unadoptable". That just broke our hearts. My advice - if you have the capacity to adopt a special needs kid, go for it! There are so many out there. It's a bit harder to identify domestically but if you are willing to go international there are long lists of kids waiting for their forever home. Good luck
i have type 2 diabetes and many other health issues. i doubt i can ever have a child of my own. i can't even think about it now anyway because i'm still too sick to take care of a child. i also have a mother that always tells me there is a reason that i have all of this...
This really touched my heart. I have often wondered about those kids out there with T1 that need homes. I'm sure it's harder to find one for them. And, I wonder too about the foster kids with T1 and if their foster family is adequatly trained to care for them. I've said before that if I could I'd be a foster mom to kids with a chronic disease. I can't right now because I have to work full-time. But, maybe one day....