Two Year Anniversary

Two years ago Arden was diagnosed with type I diabetes while we were on a family vacation in Virginia Beach, VA.  Approximately ten thousand shots ago our lives were changed in a way that I still haven’t found the words to properly convey.  

Through happenstance our family invited us to another Virginia Beach vacation this year.  So I am writing to you tonight from there.  When we drove into town today I got filled up and had to stop myself from reliving those moments from 2006 that now define our lives.  As we drove down the same street that I raced down franticly searching for a twenty-four hour pharmacy that night, I was overwhelmed by how far we’ve come, how far we still have to go but mostly by how sad I still am that Arden has this disease.  I guess that is never going to go away. 

A few hours ago, just as we did the last time we were here, we went food shopping to supply the house.  I remembered going into that store two years ago so excited about the week to come.  Today I had to fight off a piercing feeling of dread and impending doom.  I couldn’t help feeling like something horrible was going to happen tomorrow.  I don’t think that it’s a very good idea to be here today.

Tomorrow I think I’ll go with Arden to the last place in the world that I remember her not being diabetic.  Kelly and I took her for a walk at a nature reserve a few hours before we figured out that she was sick.  We watched the sun set together...  It’s the image I picture in my head every time I say, “Arden’s Day”.

Tomorrow I’ll take her back and take a new photo of her to replace the one in my mind.  She was so sick that day, so skinny and lifeless.  Wearing a little green knit sweater that I’ve never been able to bring myself to put back on her.  I think it’s time to replace that memory with a new one.  I’ll post those new pictures as soon as I can.  

Thank you to all of you that read this, you’ve made the last two years a bit easier. 

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The following are archived comments from this post. You can post new comments below.

Anonymous

You bring tears to my eyes when I read your entries.  Keep on fighting!!!

Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 11:40 PM

Elissa Harris

You are a true inspiration to me. Keep on going!  You have supporters behind you.

Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 11:42 PM

adam

That is one of the mot touching things I've ever read.  You are amazing.

Sunday, August 24, 2008 - 08:31 AM

Jeanette

I can't read your entries without crying.  Keep going strong.  You may not realize it, but you give me strength to fight this disease with half a smile on my face.

Monday, August 25, 2008 - 11:49 AM

Scott

follow up... I was never able to bring myself to go back to the place where this picture was taken.  I'm leaving that place just as it is in my memory, I don't want to ever go there again.

Friday, March 26, 2010 - 11:15 AM