Page 40 of Gene

Sammi gripped his shirt as the tears kept coming. She didn’t like to cry, but she couldn’t stop herself.

“I should have been more mindful and waited to have that conversation. You’ve been thrown so much information all at once. We’ll talk about things another day when you aren’t so overwhelmed.”

She didn’t know when that would be. Diabetes was a lifelong condition, not just a week like a common cold. When was she ever not going to be ready to talk about it?

“We’re going to talk about this right now while it’s fresh,” Daddy gently said.

“I don’t want to,” she looked away.

Daddy cupped Sammi’s face, making her look at him. “We need to.”

Tears continued to run down her face. If they started talking about it now, it was going to become more real for her. If she ignored it then it wouldn’t, right?

“I know it’s scary,” his voice was soft, comforting. “I don’t know what you’re going through but we’re going to get through this together. You got diagnosed with type one diabetes, but it’s not the end of the world. You’re going to figure out how to overcome this. It will be part of your life forever, but you aren’t going to let it define you.”

Sammi sniffles, tears pooling in her eyes and spilling over again. He knew everything right to say in the moment.

“I bet you’re feeling pretty overwhelmed, right?” Daddy asked.

She nodded.

“And things seem a little scary?”

Another nod.

“And all you want to do it curl up in a ball and have someone hold you.”

A sob broke free as he said those words. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight as she cried into his arms.

“Everything is going to be okay,” he whispered. “I’m here for you every step of the way. We’re going to get through this together. I’m going to be your rock and whenever you need to lean on me or need me to catch you, I will.”

Sammi pulled back and nodded.

“You are not going to let diabetes overrule your life,” Daddy stated with a firm voice. “We are going to learn how to manage it and you are going to continue your life. Will there be some things we need to change or accommodate? Yes, but it does not define who you are.”

Sammi took in a shuddering breath as his words hit her.

“Repeat after me. Diabetes isn’t going to ruin my life,” Daddy ran his thumb across my cheeks.

“I can’t,” She sob.

“Little one,” he gently says. “Repeat after me. Diabetes isn’t going to ruin my life.”

“Diabetes isn’t going to ruin my life,” she whispered.

“Louder. I want you to believe it.”

“What if I don’t believe it?” she asked.

“Then fake it. We’ll fake it till we make it. We’ll fake it until you start believing it. Now, again but louder.”

“Diabetes isn’t going to ruin my life,” she said louder.

“I’m not going to let diabetes win.”

“I’m not going to let diabetes win,” she spoke but it felt like a lie. How was diabetes not winning right now?

“We’ll be repeating those words every day,” Daddy kisses her forehead. “Because they are true. You may not feel like it right now, but it’s going to be okay.”

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