A Mother's Story: The Needles That Carried a Life
“These needles represent so much more than medication…they’re reminders of the decisions I made every single day to protect my daughter before she was born.”
Dear Friend of the Alberta Diabetes Foundation,
This is my daughter, Aubrey Mary. We welcomed her into the world on August 30th. I wanted to share this photo with you—it’s all of the needles I had to take throughout my nine months of pregnancy to keep my beautiful daughter safe and healthy.
These needles represent so much more than a number; they are a visual reminder of the constant work and care that goes into managing my type 1 diabetes, an illness I’ve lived with for 21 years.
Most people don't see the daily reality of diabetes. It can be a visible illness, with the scars, lumps, and bruises from countless injections. But it's also very much an invisible disease. What you don't see is the constant decision-making and planning.
Before every meal, I have to consider my blood sugar levels, the amount of carbs I’m eating, if I've exercised, and if I'll be exercising later. The average person with diabetes makes 150 more decisions a day than someone without it.
Carrying my daughter was a beautiful, but incredibly challenging, journey. During my pregnancy, these decisions became even more critical. I had to adjust my insulin every week, and my appointments with doctors and specialists seemed endless—65 in total.
“My diabetes makes every pregnancy I will ever have high-risk…”
My parents, Jules and Sharon, have always been passionately involved in finding a cure and raising funds to aid that goal. I'm so grateful for their crucial help in the early days of my diagnosis; I couldn't have managed my diabetes without them.
But this journey also brought me my husband, who has been my constant rock and biggest supporter. He is there for me through every injection, every blood sugar swing, and a true partner in navigating the emotional toll that this disease takes.
The continued mission of everyone involved to help find a cure and raise awareness for this disease means so much to me. They have done so much to support me and others like me.
The journey to a cure is long, but it's a journey we can't take alone. The work of the Alberta Diabetes Foundation is critical in supporting the research that gives families like mine hope for a better future. Your gift today could help fund a breakthrough that changes lives. Please, join me and my family in making a donation to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation.
Thank you for your generosity and for helping to make a difference.
Sincerely,
Jessica
