Without our Fairy Godmother, our family wouldn't have been able to attend one of the most spectacular nights of our lives.
And the irony of this?
Well, the opportunity presented itself because of type 1 diabetes.
Can you believe that? I mean, here I am, still feeling like we had a fairy tale evening - which we did!, and yet, the reason behind it is probably the biggest hardship we have ever faced as a family.
Something good came out of type 1 diabetes.
Wow.
And that's not all.
More good is coming out of type 1 diabetes.
Donors, benefactors, sponsors, do-gooders and all of the people that see an injustice in having a little girl (or boy):
insert an infusion set,
insert a CGM,
poke their finger,
test their blood sugar,
balance their foods
count carbs,
and hopefully dose insulin in a way that will not cause a life-threatening high or low blood sugar,
ALL IN THE HOPES OF STAYING HEALTHY,
came together for one night to raise awareness and lots of money.
All of these lovely, caring and kind people showed up to say, "ENOUGH!"
So let me describe to you how this process felt.
Here I am sitting at our lovely dinner table, surrounded by another local family that includes multiple generations of type 1 diabetes, when suddenly, the lights dim and an announcer comes up on stage to begin the evening's main attraction... auction style donating.
At the crack of the first bid, the auctioneer asks "Who would like to start us off, tonight?"
A beautiful lady sitting quietly near the front, in nothing more than a stage whisper, tells of her grandson, diagnosed as a child with type 1 diabetes. She says to the audience, who I think are holding their breath as I was, "I will give $150,000 in his honor."
Immediately, I start furiously clapping, with tears springing into my eyes. I jump up and clap even more, even louder. In a second, the entire ballroom is giving her a standing ovation.
Grinning and crying like a crazy person, I look across the room to my daughters and see that they are clapping maniacs as well.
The girl's designated job during the event was to hand a rose to each bidder. Taking it a step more, my littlest daughter scrambles up to the winner and gives them a big bear hug. This inspires her big sister as well. Another cutie little boy from the family we are sitting with does the same. As the girls and boy walk back to their position to get another rose, my daughters lock eyes with me.
We exchange big smiles, and to my surprise, they mouth the words "THANK YOU."
Not a thank you to me, but to hearing the announcement of each bid. To listening that someone understands what JDRF is doing and how the need - RIGHT NOW - is there. For starters, to fund the Artificial Pancreas.
I talk a lot about Oprah 'aha' moments. Well this was my daughters moment.
People DO want to see an end to living with type 1 diabetes.
From there, the crowd kept clapping as donations of $50,000, $25,000, $15,000 and so on..... all the way to $100.00 were made.
At one point, I realized that some of the guests were raising the same paddle for every single donation. Not a one-time bid, but multiple bids.
It was breath-taking, overwhelming and exhilarating.
I wanted to not only clap, but to hug every one of them.
And so I did what any insane parent would do.... as soon as the event was over, I high-tailed it right over to the person that donated $150,000 and declared her to be a saint. Then, I hugged her.
She was kind and gracious, instead thanking me for allowing the girls to be part of the evening. She said, "I did it for my grandson, but for all of the children too. Your daughters need a cure and we will get one."
I believed her.
And what's more, so did my daughters.
If you read what I wrote yesterday, than you know it made an impact.
Kids listen.
Now, let's make it happen.
Ps. Tomorrow, I will share more on the crazy dancing and our love of soda.
6 comments:
How can I bawl like a baby, hold my phone, eat a waffle and wipe away tears with my arm? You make a girl work on a Sunday morning! Your girls are so sweet and I had NO idea people raised their paddles multiple times! What a gift! Thanks for letting me see it through your eyes through my tears.
Aw Shari, I thought of you as I wrote this and felt such a deep kinship between our families. Magic evening for both of us. Thanks for being such a wonderful inspiration of laughter and hope. Now, go eat those soggy waffles!!!!
I'm getting ready for church, letting my hair dry, so happy I didn't do my makeup yet, cause I'd have to redo it now after reading your blog. I can say I totally understand what that moment feels like. I remember the Gala we went too & it is amazing to watch the paddles going up & down & how much $ is raised, people do want a cure & they want to help! Thank you for sharing your moment with your daughters - very precious! hugs!
Thank you for your kindness! I knew you understood the deep emotion of seeing a room full of people pledging support of a better treatment and/or cure for a disease that almost none of them even have. AMAZING! The world is a good place and two kids are still abuzz at the optimism of what WILL BE!!!!!!
I am SO beyond proud to know you, to know your family. You are all truly one of God's gifts and treasures to this world. I can't begin to put in words how awestruck I am by the recount of your weekend, the amazing and wonderful photos, the hope and optimism I feel in a cure being found, my faith in the GOODNESS of people <3...so heartwarming! Love to you! xoxo
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It was faith re-storing. People are good. I only wish that I could bottle up the kindness and sprinkle it around town. But I know that one day, we will get the ultimate gift and that will be a cure. It will happen!!! xxoo
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