My Brother's Struggle...

I left off talking about my Sister and her having depression issues. You are probably wondering what on earth that has to do with diabetes and my brother's struggles? My sister was a diabetic too. She also died much too young as a result of having this ghastly disease. Depression hastened her demise. Because of her depression, her doctor would not recommend her for a kidney transplant. The diabetes literally ravished her body offering no reprieve. We lost her at age 56. Depression tends to exasserbate a health condition. That is what happened to my sister. Her blood pressure and cholesterol were out of control, she lost half of her foot, then the foot and then finally her leg above the knee. She developed heart desease. Neuropothy effected her exttold her remities as I can recall her crying out in pain as she flelt as though someone was piercing her foot or hands with a needle. All the while surrendering to her depression and ultimately her demise. There was no fight in her at all. At her bedside as she lay nearly comatose, I told her it was ok to let go. That was tough for me to do but, I could not stand to watch diabetes have it's way with her. A couple of years later, my cousin, Junior Barnes became yet another victim of this dastardly desease.

My Brother's Struggle...

My name is Cheryl. My intent is to chronicle my brother's struggles with coping with diabetes and all of it's hideous manisfestations. Each day brings new experiences- some good, some bad. The bad seems to outweigh the good. I guess, perhaps, it might be a good idea to start at the beginning. My sisters, of which I have 2, and my and brother and I were born of parents who both passed as a result of having diabetes. My mother passed at age 48 and my dad was 82. My mother had been diagnosed with renal failure one month and passed the next. She had diabetes but never knew that she had it. That was in 1968... little was known of the disease. She was a single parent and was a dress maker and designer by profession, self-employed. Having no insurance, she was forced to treat whatever ailments she may have developed. She just could not afford to purchase insurance. Mommie left behind 3 minor children and the eldest was 27 and sufffering with depression which often caused her to withdraw to her room for days at a time.
I will continue on tomorrow.