kait

This past year has been incredibly hard for so many people, myself included. For me, managing (and caring about) my type one diabetes has been a mountain standing between myself and my happiness.

I was diagnosed three years ago when I was 17 years old, and, as you can imagine, being late to the game has meant having to hurdle obstacles that I never saw coming. For example, I landed back in the hospital some time ago and found myself feeling helpless to all the carnage that my mental health created.

I stayed in the ICU for 2 days and the doctors were so supportive and understanding—I could cry just thinking about it. My family and friends supported me despite the damage and with their help, I’m finally climbing that damn mountain.

Giving up isn’t an option.

Taking back my life has empowered me to do damage control—to take care of myself. I’ve been empowered to care about everyone who has ever struggled in this way. So, if you understand that type one diabetes is a battle that we’re still fighting to win, I’ve opened a fundraiser with JDRF.

JDRF works to fund research on a variety of scientific advancements in artificial pancreas technology. They regularly work with insurance companies and the FDA so that upon approval, this kind of technology can be accessible and affordable.

I’m ready to fight for our right to affordable healthcare, I’m ready to fight for a cure. And I’m asking for your help, thank you for reading and thank you for caring💙

I understand that masks are uncomfortable and social distancing is inconvenient. As an essential worker during this pandemic I can assure that the frustrations are understandable and valid.

However, as a type 1 diabetic, I would like to kindly ask that the public be mindful of immuno-compromised people and wear your mask in public.

The truth is, you can never tell who has a health condition at first glance. I even had a coworker, whom I’ve worked with for a few months now, only learn yesterday that I was type 1 diabetic.

It’s impossible to know what people are struggling with under the mask, which is why it’s so important to wear them.

While I agree that COVID-19 won’t be going anywhere for a while and, in some cases, the symptoms aren’t life threatening, it should also be instilled as life saving information that wearing a mask in public can prevent people like me (and people who aren’t like me) from getting sick and going through hell and possibly dying.

It can be hard to feel like COVID is an active threat when people you know aren’t being effected, but the people you don’t know are real too.

Please be cautious and wear your mask, because although the virus isn’t taking as many lives as it did when we were first exposed, it still is and has the potential to take many more lives.