Amy and her boyfriend, Kalvin, have been together for six months today so it seemed fitting that he was offered the chance to write this year’s Diaversary post.
These are (16 year old) Kalvin’s honest and open thoughts on what Amy’s diabetes means to him, how it’s affected him and how he sees it affecting her/them.
Anyway, over to you Kalvin.
I met Amy on NCS six months ago. I found out she had Type 1 almost immediately. Naturally like everyone else, I didn’t really understand what it was, the dangers and just any of it really. Diabetes is definitely confusing. Take it from me. I have been Amy’s boyfriend from nearly the first day I met her – don’t ask, it wasn’t one of those cheesy ‘love at first sight’ moments you see in films.
Even with diabetes, everything she has achieved and is able to achieve today is remarkable. It just proves that it doesn’t have to be the end of the world for anyone. It’s simply a new chapter.
My first hurdle with Amy was NCS itself. On our first week together, the sudden realisation that diabetes was definitely real and definitely impacting her hit me like a truck, as it had certainly hit her on day two. Day. Two. I found out that morning that Amy’s levels had supposedly dropped below one. Thankfully, they hadn’t and it was a simple tech glitch, but her levels were dropping that night and if no one had intervened, well it’s something I don’t like to think about. The rest of NCS was just perfect. I know, it had only been a few days and suddenly I was a part of her life. Getting to know her, getting to know what life was like when she was younger. It definitely impressed me how well the family had managed it after seven years.
I knew that Amy would be having a holiday in India that summer. What I didn’t realise is that they would be gone a month. It’s this kind of trend that’s been worrying me throughout my time with her. Completely fearful, rushing at every moment I got to text her, make sure she was still there. The scare during NCS had and still makes me paranoid that something could happen.
Maybe it’s because I don’t know what its like. Kev and Jane, (her parents, though I doubt you’d have made it to this page without knowing who they are), have been forced into making sure she is okay. From what I’ve read and seen, they do a brilliant job at it. Yet I still worry that something could happen to her. If something happened when we were in public, what would I do? It’s all been a rush for me. A constant flow of information, trying to learn and keep up with what they know, what to do if her levels drop, how to make sure she is okay at all times.
After India and finally being able to relax a small amount, I knew that I would rarely be able to see and know for sure she was fine. With me working weekends and both of us just starting college, we were both gonna be super busy all the time. I wouldn’t be able to see her as often as I had over the summer, excluding the month away. I can remember one night where I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. Just in case she called and something was happening and she needed me. There were too many what-ifs.
I found out about this blog a few months back. It has been an absolute gift. I know Amy so much better now and I know the condition slightly slightly more now, even if I still get confused with bolus. If you’re new to this whole get-up, you’ve got to do your reading early, else you’ll be a nervous wreck like me! And no one wants that. Probably.
Not really much has happened since then. My sleeping has got better now I’m more comfortable with the risks. I don’t get completely terrified not knowing what has happened that day. Amy has certainly been a wake-up call for me to care about others as much as myself, and in her case more. I’ve learned so much from their family. The best advice I can give is to listen to every word that you’re told because the family of a diabetic girl is very, very smart when it comes to it. Anything I need to know/want to know/will probably be useful to know if I need to do emergency things can be told to me whenever I need to/want to/should hear it.
At the end of the day, I would give anything just to make sure she doesn’t have to do another set change, or give herself insulin for a meal. I would take her place in a heartbeat. I don’t want to think about what could happen, what nearly has happened.
Amy – I can’t wait to see you this time next year. Who knows what the future holds for you?