Team Name: "Yes Brennan I have your ……."
I am running for my boyfriend Brennan and the group InsulinDependence. InsulinDependence mission is: "Insulindependence inspires people with diabetes to set personal fitness goals, educates them on adaptive management strategies through hands-on experience, and equips them to explore their individual capacities."
You are probably all wondering why I have teamed up with this group. I started work on my master’s degree in 2009 and shortly after starting I met an individual within my cohort named Brennan Cassidy. We have been seriously dating for over a year and half, he is my best friend and the love of my life. Brennan is a Type 1 diabetic; he was diagnosed at the age of 12. While Brennan deals with it daily the shock and fear of him being a diabetic scared me early on in the relationship. I was more in fear because I had no real knowledge or understanding. I have since done my research, but it is a complicated disease. It’s complicated because no diabetic is the same. Much of the learning and control that Brennan has is due to trial and error. Brennan also realized that he has the best control when he has very consistent physical activity. He has been training for triathlons with the eventual goal being to compete in Ironman’s. His desires to be active and compete lead him to finding the group Insulindependence.
I have attended multiple events with the group and it has been an amazing learning experience for me personally. After every event we attend I know that for Brennan these few hours mean so much more. It is a place where everyone else has the same worries with food, insulin, and the use of a pump and so many other things. At these different events he has walked away learning more and gaining even more control over his diabetes. So in two days I will help run along side Brennan. Or he will be in front and I will be trying to catch up. Just wait till we do a triathlon at the same time, luckily I can swim, so Brennan will be trying to catch me. But we will be running because he can and because we want to help the group grow and help other individuals who are diabetic reach their goals.
As for my team name it comes with a funny story. When we first started dating I always offered to keep snacks in my purse in the case Brennan would ever need them. Brennan was always telling me I didn’t need to, but I always had a snack (just in case). Soon it became “Jamie do you have any snacks in your purse my blood sugar is low.” Next it was the meter, no Jamie I can keep it in my pocket. That also changed to me always carrying it. So the question I get all day long is “Babe can I have my meter.” Then Brennan got on this medicine to help his body use insulin better after eating called symlin. This medication has to stay cold and be carried around in a kinda big case. Well if you haven’t figured it out yet that also now can always be found in my purse. So I am a little diabetic pack mule for Brennan and I am always asked for either “a snack, meter or his symlin.” So the answer is “Yes Brennan I have your …….”
So please DONATE to my cause in helping grow InsulinDependence cause a cure would be great, but till it is found these individuals have found an amazing group to learn from and a support group to reach their own personal goals whether that is to walk everyday or compete in an Ironman.
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