Earlier this week, I got word that a woman who called herself “Goddess” online has passed away. She had over 6,000 friends on the DiabeticConnect community site. To be honest, I didn’t know much about her other than the tips and questions she posted very regularly. Still, it’s the oddest (and saddest) sensation when any life disappears like that.
Another member sent a query saying there still seemed to be activity on Goddess’ profile, and was she still with us? That turned out to be simply a result of people responding to friend invites that she sent months ago. It’s eerie.
It reminds me that for all the great advancements in treatment and care, we diabetics are still playing with fire.
It reminds me that life is so fragile. (Goddess was not an old woman. But she did list that she suffered from many diabetes-related conditions, including neuropathy, high cholesterol, and depression.)
It reminds me that these online blogs and networks that connect us are more than just fun and games. They are, for many, truly a lifeline.
The good folks at Alliance Health (developers of the DiabeticConnect community) are working on a way to “memorialize her profile.”
My suggestion was to create a full “memorial wall” area where we could maybe add the names of others lost to diabetes. I should like to add my father’s name there somewhere. Lost but never forgotten.
Where is the damn cure?
Going through some back blog posts, Cherise’s item on “test before driving” reminded me of the passing of one of my mother’s friends, almost 23 years ago. If I recall the situation correctly, this was late-adult-onset T2, treated with oral medications. She was also full-time caregiver to her disabled husband (who, based on the symptoms leading up to his disablement, may also have had undiagnosed diabetes). The woman took her pre-breakfast pills, got distracted by her husband before eating, got dizzy, went out onto the porch of their 5th-story apartment to get some air, and fell over the railing to her death.
I think the idea of a memorial wall is a very nice idea; DiabetesPortal once had a similar memorial site (see http://bit.ly/c976gu for that) and it seems fitting in today’s increasingly digital age! As for the cure, I think patients will need to be driving that vehicle!!
A memorial wall would be great.
And Yes, Where is the damn cure!!!!?
A memorial wall is a wonderful idea Amy.
I logged on to DiabeticConnect after reading your post. It been a while since I’d been on the site. I checked my inbox & had several friend requests – including one from Goddess. I felt sad on so many levels. I accepted her FR & wish I’d have had the chance to be a real friend to her in life.
I need some advice how to deal with a wife that is unsupportive of my diabetes. She continues to buy foods and fills the house with candies and baked goods that she knows I shouldn’t eat. We’ve had tons of discussions about it. She swears she cares but her actions belie that I have been living unresponsibly since my dctor diagnosed me with diabetes. My family has been ravaged by diabetes too many to number. For the last two years I have begged her to accompany me to a dietrician. She refuses and says I’m doing everything I can to help you. But she continues to buy things she knows I shouldn’t eat and fillls the house with them. Even though I buy my own foods the fact that the other stuff is so plentiful, when I’m hungry I will weaken and eat something I shouldn’t most of the stuff I’m not aware of how it will affect me.
I have even had thoughts of leaving her knowing I love her and that’s the last thing I want to do but in my world actions speak much louder than words if you really love someone there is no way you continue to put poison in front of them hoping they eat it.
BTW, I am so thankful to find a site like this that I can talk to someone and get immediate responses.
To write it’s important…but the real lifeline for me it’s prayer… I know by faith…or if you want by fantasy, that our life here is a pilgrimage.We have at work in the sky many people who wants and manage to win diabetes…and on the earth there is also someone Eugenia