So, as I said in the last post, today is World Diabetes Day. It is really neat to me that on this particular year, the first year that WDD is being recognized internationally, I am living just three blocks from Banting House which is the home that Frederick Banting was practicing medicine out of when he first came up with the idea that would lead to the discovery of insulin. In a dream, no less. I visited Banting house in the spring and I wrote about those experiences here and here.

Honestly, I would never have expected to be so impacted by living around the corner from this national monument. I’m not an overly emotional person and although I experience many different feelings about my disease, I have learned, over the last fourteen years, to push it out of my mind. But every time I walk past Banting House I feel inspired and touched that a place exists to remind others that people like me are out there and that our cause is an important one. Walking by the Flame of Hope reminds me that my suffering is not forgotten and some days I really need to be told that.

Suffering. I don’t like to call it that because it sounds so self-indulgent. But the truth is that this disease has taken things from me. Freedom, flexibility, comfort, peace of mind, and probably years off my lifespan. And I would consider my diabetes “well” controlled. There are moments when I think “poor me”. Even though I know others have suffered far greater and more painful circumstances. Even though people in other parts of the world with the same illness will die from it because they are unable to access treatment. So I try to remember those people when I visit.

The inscription reads:

This flame of hope was conceived by his Honor, Judge John M. Seneshen and stands as a symbol for all persons suffering from diabetes around the world. This flame will burn continuously and only be extinguished when it can be declared that a cure for diabetes has been found. Just as Banting’s house is the birthplace of insulin, so Frederick Banting square is the birthplace of the Flame of Hope.

Until a cure is found. We will be remembered. I think that is awesome and I am humbled to be among the millions who are honoured by this memorial. This evening I went over to Banting House to take a picture as it was to be “lit up in blue” along with many other buildings around the world. Unfortunately, this is all they did:

Apparently white bulbs with a blue tinge to them is considered “lit up”. A bit disappointing, no? The picture is blurry because I don’t know how to make my camera take good pictures at night. But the big banner on the front says “World Diabetes Day” on it. But other places in the world really went all out. Check out London, England:

Aimee over at Greeblemonkey also posted about WDD today and she posted a really great video which is part of something called the Word in Your Hand Project. It was done by the folks over at TuDiabetes. Here is the video for you to watch. It’s quite short so please check it out if you have a few seconds.

I was totally inspired to take my own picture but I had a hard time picking a word. There are so many words to describe my feelings towards my disease. Some of the phrases that immediately paraded through my head were tired, hopeful, frustrated, concerned, afraid, brave, perseverance, desperate, unsure, grateful, solidarity, anger and the list goes on. But I finally settled on this:

I hope for and expect a cure. Make it happen, people.