Without further adieu, we present a true holiday classic: It's a Wonderful Life. That is, if George Bailey had type 1 diabetes.

 

We pick up at the dramatic conclusion as a harsh wind dies down and a soft, gentle snow begins to fall upon Bedford Falls.

 

GEORGE: I want to live again. I want to live again. Please, God, let me live again.

 

BERT: Hey, George! George! You all right?

 

George backs away and gets set to hit Bert again.

 

GEORGE: Now get out of here, Bert, or I'll hit you again! Get out!

 

BERT: What the Sam Hill you yelling for, George? Wait a minute. Are you having one of your diabetic episodes again? Mary warned me that if I found you, you might be actin' all belligerent-like.

 

GEORGE: (astonished) Bert, you know me? You know I have diabetes?

 

BERT: Know you? I've been looking all over town for you. Do you realize you left your house without your testing supplies? Everyone knows you have diabetes. We find your test strips all over Bedford Falls. Yesterday I found one in my corn flakes. Why if you hadn't thrown your insulin pump into that frozen pond to pull your brother Harry out, he would have drowned.

 

GEORGE: (laughing joyously) My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleed …

 

BERT: Uh George, you're actin' sorta screwy. Maybe you should eat something.

 

GEORGE: (feeling in watch pocket) JUJUBES! JUJUBES! … they're … they're here, Bert! What do you know about that?

 

BERT: Well, don't just stand there, George, eat them!

George throws a handful of JUJUBES candies into his mouth, embraces Bert and then runs at top speed toward town.

 

GEORGE: Mary! Mary!

 

GEORGE: Hello, Bedford Falls!

 

He runs through the falling snow up the main street of town.

 

GEORGE: Merry Christmas, movie house!

 

GEORGE: Merry Christmas, Emporium!

 

GEORGE: Merry Christmas, you wonderful old endocrinology office!

 

George comes dashing through the front door.

 

GEORGE: (excitedly) Mary!

 

GEORGE: (happily) Well, hello Mr. bank examiner! Isn't it wonderful? I have diabetes!

 

GEORGE: Mary!

 

CHILDREN'S VOICES: Merry Christmas, Daddy! Merry Christmas, Daddy!

 

GEORGE: Pete! Kids! Janie! Tommy! (takes them in his arms) I could eat you up!

 

ZUZU: And you wouldn't have to bolus for us, Daddy!

 

GEORGE: That's right, Gingersnap! That's right.

 

Mary comes through the door, breathless and excited.

 

GEORGE: Mary! Mary!

 

MARY: Oh George, George, George.

 

George and Mary embrace tearfully.

 

MARY: (excitedly) Now you stand right over here, by the tree. Right there, and don't move. George, it's a miracle. It's a miracle!

 

UNCLE BILLY: Isn't it wonderful?

 

MARY: Come in, Uncle Billy! Everybody!

 

A large crowd of townspeople get ready to enter the house.

 

GEORGE: (interrupting) Just a minute, just a minute. Now hold on, Uncle Billy.

 

MARY: What is it darling? What's wrong?

 

GEORGE: I think I'm low.

 

MARY: Are you sure? Right now? Everyone is here. We have such a wonderful surprise for you.

 

GEORGE: Yeah, I really think I'm low.

 

MARY: (slightly deflated) I'll go get your testing supplies.

 

Mary searches, but can't find it.

 

MARY: Say Uncle Billy, when you went out looking for George with his testing supplies, where did you put the bag when you came back home?

 

UNCLE BILLY: (bewildered) Testing supplies?

 

Uncle Billy scratches his head, looking at the numerous strings tied around his fingers. He begins to retrace his steps.

 

UNCLE BILLY: Hmm, testing supplies. I know I had …

 

Mr. Potter sits at his desk, spreads his newspaper out in front of him, and finds George Bailey's diabetes bag. He smiles menacingly.

 

GEORGE: Janie, be a peach and get daddy his little spare OneTouch meter. The green one. It's in the den. Just detach the USB cable from my laptop.

 

Janie returns with the meter, spare test strips and a finger pricker.

 

GEORGE: (frustrated as the blood doesn't fill the strip) Doggone test strips! Hand me another one, will you Mary?

 

TOMMY: What is it, Daddy?

 

GEORGE: (puzzled) What do you know about that? I'm 302. I suppose I could have over-treated with the JUJUBES.

 

MARY: George, darling, can we let everyone in now? We have such fabulous news!

 

GEORGE: Then again I could have spiked from the adrenaline. And it has been an unusually stressful day.

 

MARY: George?

 

GEORGE: Sorry. Yes! Yes! Let 'em in! Let 'em in!

 

The crowd bursts into the living room, coming forward one after another, pouring coins and cash onto the table in front of George.

 

Violet Bick arrives and takes out the money George had given her for her trip to New York.

 

VIOLET: Hey Georgie-Porgie! I know what it's like having diabetes. My grandmother's cat has it. Take the money and buy one of those continuous glucose monitors I've been hearing about.

 

George smiles at Violet with tears in his eyes.

 

Emerging from the crowd, Harry, in naval uniform, enters with Bert the cop.

 

GEORGE: Harry! … Harry!

 

Ernie hands Harry a glass of wine.

 

HARRY: Good idea, Ernie. A toast … to my big brother, George. The richest diabet… Excuse me. The richest person with diabetes in town!

 

Once more the crowd breaks into cheering and applause and then join in singing "Auld Lang Syne." The large crowd causes the Christmas tree to sway. Zuzu points to the silver bell on the tree.

 

ZUZU: Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings, another person is diagnosed with diabetes.

 

GEORGE: (smiling) That's right, that's right!

 

The singing crowd swells to a crescendo.

 

For auld lang syne, my dear,

 

For auld lang syne,

 

We'll take a cup of kindness yet,

 

For auld lang syne!