At 21 I did not expect to lose my mother. My mother was 53 years young and full of life. She lived every day for her girls (my sister and I). My mother was 28 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She was never a good patient. She hated the disease. I remember having to grow up fast at a young age, making sure that my mom ate and tested her blood sugar. I knew how to give her a glucagon shot and bring her blood sugar up. On October 9th, 2015 was the last time I saw my mom healthy. On October 10th, 2015 around 10 a.m., I received a call at work from my sister saying mom was low. I arrived to see my mother passed out and sweaty in bed. Nothing I did was working. Finally, I tested her blood sugar again and it was 200...that's when we called the ambulance. My mom went unresponsive for a month. She lacked glucose for several hours. She eventually awoke, but couldn't walk or talk. She was moved to a nursing home where she seemed to get stronger every day. She was trying to talk and was walking great! I saw my mother slowly wasting away. Her strength was leaving her. At the beginning of the New Year, she was moved to a nursing home closer to home. She battled a cold/flu and was very weak. She barely talked and couldn't walk. On March 13th, 2015, my mother was taken to the hospital for blood clots in her lungs. On March 15th, 2015, I said goodbye to my mother. I never expected to feel so much pain. My mission in life now is to spread awareness on diabetes and how life threatening of a disease it can be.

Morgan Spiering
Danville, IL