Rachel Tierney-Shedlock

There I was, completely overwhelmed, reading all the horrid consequences of high blood sugars over and over again and In my mind my daughters life was pretty much over, as was mine. Every day was a battle, weigh this, count that, add up this, take that away, hypos, apple juice, jelly babies, highs, lows,  my daughters unmanageable anger, tears tears tears, family and “friends” just not understanding, injections, crying, screaming, begging, Isolation, terrified to sleep, eat this, no don’t eat that, yes you can have that-but in 2 hours with your meal, exhaustion and the overwhelming guilt that I was not able to manage the beast that lives in my daughter! This beast has no logic, no consideration, no thought for her feelings or health, it’s always there, constantly making you try and plan the weather, the exercise, the growth hormones the random moments of fun that will burn energy, while sucking the energy out of me……….the beast constantly kicks you and never ever leaves. 

Not now. Now the beast just disappears and leaves us alone, now the beast doesn’t make us low or stop us, it’s horrible head doesn't pop up and tell us what to do. Now we glimpse of life living along side this uninvited beast as it has been put in a box, and the lid firmly shut by Eleanors omnipod and dexcom and my new found ability to plan 

Instead days were filled with smiles, laughter and a lot of fun! 

So many other T1 parents told me it would get better and I never believed them, but it really has. I’ve been blessed to get to know a T1 family that have shown us amazing support and that has massively helped both me and my daughter. 

Eleanor is a warrior, sometimes we still have to deal with this beast, but we do, and that lid soon firmly shut again!

Eleanor will walk with pride and resilience on the 9th of May to raise as much awareness and funds to support finding a cure.

Thankyou for reading and for supporting ❤️