JDRF Walk Day 2010 Golden Gate Bridge

I had so many plans for our first JDRF Walk. I was going to write a letter worthy of the Oprah show. Make a video worthy of an Oscar. Raise thousands of dollars.

And every single time I sat down to work on my Oprah letter and Oscar nomination worthy video, I found myself emotionally crippled. Overwhelmed by grief and sadness. I couldn't look at the pictures and the words that came out seemed sad and desperate. Not inspirational and heartfelt. I agonized and felt guilty. Here I claimed I would do anything to find a cure for our son, yet I couldn't write a letter or make a video and could barely bring myself to sign up? I could talk the talk but not walk the walk. Not like me at all.

I needed a new perspective. I forget that it has been eight months since our lives changed forever. Then with our recent scare with L it brought up so many emotions from T's diagnosis and the fear and anxiety I feel for her overwhelmed me. Instead of denying the feelings, I let them come. I decided that this year the walk was for US. It was to acknowledge all we have been through and celebrate the triumphs. To acknowledge the challenges and tribulations and how we keep conquering them. We walked to show how grateful we are that we are together and healthy. We walked to honor T and what an amazing job he is doing and for his brother and sister and all their support.

Here is a video of our JDRF Walk Day 2010.

We had an amazing time, walking with amazing friends (Go team Schuwalker!), meeting new people and feeling like part of a world community. T's clinical trial team was there and we had a happy reunion. They were amazed at how well T is doing.

We continued our celebration by visiting the de Young Museum in San Francisco and seeing beautiful tribal artwork from Africa.  We didn't bring a change of clothes, so we wore our walk shirts to the museum.

The highlight of our trip was when a beautiful woman walked up and said, "So did you guys walk today or are you all wearing matching shirts to find each other in the museum?" We explained that we had walked today and she went on to tell us that she had been Type 1 for 25 years. Diagnosed when she was 14. She had traveled all over the world, to Europe, and Asia, and had just returned from Africa, had two healthy kids and told us she had never been in the hospital for Type 1. She gave T advice about college, driving and how to "manage" his parents. I found it interesting that she said that Type 1 is way harder for parents, than it is for the kids who have it.  She wanted T to know that Type 1 would never stop him from doing anything he wanted to do. I hugged her and thanked her. She had no idea how badly I needed to hear that. And T was lit up the rest of the day. To the beautiful, world traveling, wedding attending, fellow T1D woman from Texas- THANK YOU.

Then we played and splashed in the park in the rain. We finished off our day with our favorite Burmese restaurant- where we SWAGed with awesome accuracy (or just plain dumb luck-but hell, I'll take it)!

I am so glad we went. We had a wonderful day. This was a practice video for next years donation drive video. I am preparing my speech all ready.