Life with Type 1

Please Oprah, dont screw this up!

gailita — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:47:08 +0000

Below is another email I sent to the Oprah Winfrey show. I dont expect a reply but I just hope and pray she will read this.

“Oprah,
I previously wrote to you this morning regarding your upcoming show this Thursday. Most of us in the DOC (Diabetic online community) are VERY apprehensive about how you are going to tackle the many facets of diabetes and the information you put out there to your audience. I think my good friend Kelly, a Type 1 diabetic, says what we feel in the nicest way possible. Please just take a moment to read this blog page, it will only take a few minutes and might open your eyes to the giant picture. http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/2010/02/open-letter-to-oprah-dr-oz-please-get.html
Thank you,

Gail Jank
Parent to a beautiful 3yr old Type 1 diabetic.”

Featured on DMom :)

gailita — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:43:59 +0000

So today I am featured on a great blog called DMom. My friend Leighann started this blog and she features amazing Mom’s of children with Type 1 on Mondays. I remember answering these questions for her but as I read the post today I welled up with pride. Not for myself, but for an amazing little girl who deals with this disease every moment of her life. Please take a moment to read the article

http://www.d-mom.com/d-mom-gail/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+d-mom+%28D-Mom+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+International

The Big Day!

gailita — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:29:12 +0000

So as most of you know World Diabetes Day was this past Saturday, November 14th 2009. I had thought long and hard what I could do to commemorate this day. I wanted to do something special, something that would spark conversation so I could raise awareness about this disease, something that I would love! Now there are people out there that would think my decision was a bit on the “Wild” side, and I couldnt agree more! That just kind of sums up my personality. Below is a picture of what I chose to do for the big day. I got a new tattoo with the word “Hope” – it says it all in a nutshell of what I have for my daughter. I also wanted to incorporate the World Diabetes Symbol – the blue circle- into the design to remind people what I hope for:

I have hope that one day there will be a cure for diabetes.

I have hope that one day she wont have to prick her finger over 10x in one day.

I have hope that one day she can eat something without worrying what it will do to her blood sugar.

I have hope that one day she wont be at risk for the multitude of complications that go along with having this disease.

This is how I chose to celebrate World Diabetes Day – and I HOPE it will inspire others. Please help us find a cure.

World Diabetes Day – what can I do?

gailita — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:04:08 +0000

So November 14th is World Diabetes Day. A day to bring about awareness all over the world to the massive epidemic that is Diabetes. I kept thinking all weekend, what can I do that would make a difference. August 31, 2008 was the day that forever changed my family and especially my little girl. When we walked into the ER we only thought she had a bad flu, when we left a week later we knew that her life was completely different. Since that day I have immersed myself in all things Diabetes trying to learn what to do for her and how to make her life better with this. Most days I feel like I have a better understanding and then we have days where I think “What the heck are we doing??” Our family and friends have been amazing and so supportive that it has made the transition a lot easier, but as I sit and contemplate what can I possibly do to help the diabetes community I draw a blank.

I have donated money, we walked in our JDRF walk, we have gone to support groups, you name it we are trying to do it. I just feel like this isnt enough. As I sat complaining to one of my girlfriends about this on Friday night she looked at me and said:

“Are you kidding? Look at our huge group of friends and their kids and how much they know about diabetes now. You have taught all the kids more than you know. They all look out for Lane, watch what she eats, make sure she gets tested, and make sure there is not candy around her and they are only ages 3-9! Did you know this when you were a kid? I dont think so. What you have done already is a HUGE step toward making people aware.”

After she said this it really got me thinking – I didnt know anything about diabetes when I was a kid. I even graduated Nursing school and still didnt know much about it besides learning how to test a person’s blood sugar. Was what she said right? Am I really educating people on a daily basis? I believe that I am and it was one of the proudest moments I have had in a long time.

Each of us out there that are touched by diabetes is raising awareness that otherwise would not have been done. They say everything happens for a reason and at the time when Lane was diagnosed this statement made me very angry – “How could this happen for a reason?” – moments like these make it a bit easier to digest – because of her diagnosis I am helping an entire community make their lives a little bit better.

So I say to everyone out there, please help us make November 14th a day to remember. Help us raise awareness about this dreadful disease and maybe one day (hopefully soon) we will have a cure.

why are we switching u ask?

gailita — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:43:44 +0000

So Lane made the big jump from MDI to a pump back in March. After much deliberation we were convinced to go with the One Touch Ping. We had originally wanted the Omnipod due to the fact she was 2yrs old and we didn’t want her to have to deal with the pouch or tubing. We brought our concerns to our Endo and our wishes for the most part were just dismissed. We were told 1- she was just way too young to have the Omnipod. (WRONG) 2- its so bulky she wont like it (WRONG) 3- the Ping can deliver smaller amounts of insulin so its better with her being so little (WRONG AGAIN). After 5 months on the PING, countless tubing issues, numbers still erratic, and my little baby needing a lot more insulin on a daily basis than the Dr. thought – we are back to our original argument, we want her on the Omnipod. So here my journey begins- contacted our Endo- wrote a very long email expressing my wishes and views on how I think this situation was handled and want it rectified and I have contacted Insulet Corp. to get the ball rolling. I don’t know at this point if my insurance is going to go for this new switch but I am going to hound them and hound them until I get the answer I want. My Endo office said they are finally behind us and will most likely be able to do her pump start training first week of September.

Now I have absolutely nothing against One Touch or with the PING, it just isnt a good fit for us. I am praying that we can make this switch with hopefully few glitches but in the world of Diabetes we all know that is asking for a lot. Thank god I have my friends and fellow D community to lean on – its hard enough doing this myself.

What a difference a year makes- make that 2

gailita — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:06:05 +0000

Well where do I start, my last post was June 2007 and I can hardly believe it. I didnt think I would ever come back to the blogasphere again but I think there is something to be said about getting your voice out there. To start off my daughter Lane celebrated her 2nd birthday on June 28th, 2008 and shortly thereafter on August 31st, 2008 we rushed her to the ER and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Needless to say I thought my world was ending. In some ways my life before that day did end and a new one began for the entire family. We have been through hell and back since that day and I think our family is stronger because of this. I always thought I was this tough chick who really doesnt get rattled by much but my kids, Cole andLane have me beat by far. I am not sure what our life is going to be like moving forward but I do know we will handle it! Lane has now been living with Diabetes for almost a year andwe have survived. We are pumping now with her pretty pink ping (say that 3x’s really fast!) and Cole starts Kindergarten in August (HOLY COW!) – what a difference a year makes ~

We are on Flickr

david — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:35:07 +0000

If you haven’t found us already, our Flickr photo/blog site is more active right now. Just not enough time in the day to keep up with a full fledged blog. Thanks for viewing and please feel free to add comments to the flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jank5/

LOST!?!

david — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:13:22 +0000

If you’re not an avid fan already, your chance to catch up on the best show on TV starts tonight, Wednesday 1/30. The return of Lost is highly anticipated in this household, particularly with the writer’s strike still going. So if you’re new, or if you’re already bitten by Lost, here’s what to watch:

Wednesday 1/30, 9 to 11pm ET – “Through the Looking Glass”. This is an airing of last year’s 2 hour season finale, but this time ABC has spiced it up..

“Get ready for the Season Four premiere of “Lost” with a special presentation of the Season Three two-hour finale, “Through the Looking Glass,” enhanced with on-screen facts and back story about one of the most talked about dramas on television. Whether you already watched the amazing conclusion of “Lost” last season or this is your first time viewing it, the special enhanced “Lost” catches viewers up on the story of the Oceanic 815 survivors in a way you’ve never experienced before.”

Thursday, 1/31, 8 to 9pm ET – “Past, Present & Future”. This show recaps the first 3 seasons..

“ABC once again invites new and avid “Lost” viewers to take another look at one of the most talked about and critically acclaimed shows. “LOST: Past, Present & Future” will explore the series in a way that will bring new viewers up to date — but which current viewers will also find illuminating – in anticipation of the fourth season premiere episode. The special will take an in-depth look at the mysteries of both the island and its inhabitants and recap the secrets that have been revealed, as well as those that remain unanswered.”

Thursday, 1/31, 9 to 10pm ET – The Beginning of the End. Season 4 kicks off!

I recommend you make room on your Tivo to record them all. If you’re totally new to Lost, watch the Past, Present, and Future episode before anything else. If this all too much, there’s an 8 minute recap video on ABC.com – http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index

(BTW, yes we’re back).

Dolphins in London

david — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 03:45:54 +0000

The Miami Dolphins, yes 0-7, are playing the Giants in London this weekend as American football invades England, a back-at-ya for the Beattles invasion here in the 60′s. So that’s the background, here’s the good stuff:

Channing Crowder, LB for the Phins, was quoted this week

“I couldn’t find London on a map if they didn’t have the names of the countries. I swear to God. I don’t know what nothing is. I know Italy looks like a boot. I learned that. I know London Fletcher. We did a football camp together. So I know him. That’s the closest thing I know to London. He’s black, so I’m sure he’s not from London. I’m sure that’s a coincidental name.”

WOW, right? The popular story on the blogs and football forums. He’s a Florida Gator by the way. Then this happens:

“Middle linebacker Zach Thomas might not make the Dolphins’ trip to London because he was in a minor car accident…. Thomas and his wife were leaving the Dolphins’ 49-28 loss to the New England Patriots last weekend when their vehicle was rear-ended on the turnpike…. According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, Thomas and his wife were not at fault when they were rear-ended in stop-and-go traffic by a driver wearing Patriots attire.”

Man, can things get much worse for the Dolphins? At first I thought, how ironic that a Pats fan hits him in the rear after an already hard day getting stomped on the field. But imagine the Patsy getting out of his car alongside the turnpike to walk up to the car he just hit and out of the car steps Zach Thomas. The guy is not tall but he is huge. Anyway, I’m reading this on a forum that I visit and an update later in the week states:

“Zach Thomas reportedly does not have a concussion, but doctors have advised him to skip the Dolphins trip to London. Thomas saw a specialist about his injury on Wednesday. The 34-year-old isn’t expected to be on the six-hour flight. Channing Crowder will start at MLB.”

Channing Crowder!? The next post reads:

“Although there is a 50/50 chance Channing Crowder will drive to London Fletcher’s house by mistake.”

Can’t make this stuff up!

There’s No Monsters

david — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:51:20 +0000

With Halloween approaching, I thought I’d share one of Cole’s latest phrases – there’s no monsters. Anytime he goes to the bathroom he confirms with us “there’s no monsters”. He closes the door now by the way. When he’s climbing in bed, “there’s no monsters”. Even if he’s going to the other side of the house alone we hear it. It’s one of those half statement / half question things. Of course, me telling you is not the same as hearing him say it but still, it’s funny.

Now, some may consider this pic of Lane monsterous as well -
(click pic to go to the gallery for more)

More new photos here