Posted by Sandy D. on June 30, 1998 at 17:02:04:
In Reply to: Re: Good Morning America posted by Sandra Silvestri on June 30, 1998 at 16:40:40:
Sandra, I think you made some very good points. For us, and many other diabetics and parents of diabetics, diabetes is a special thing. But there are many, many causes out there -- muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cancer, Special Olympics, abused children, child support collection, animal rights, the list goes on ad infinitum. I was once called at my home by a woman who represented a multiple sclerosis group. I told her I gave to a number of causes and MS was not one of them. She angrily replied, "Why not? Don't you like them?" and hung up on me! I don't see us being able to sway the general public and try to educate them about diabetes; in most cases, they won't care to try to be educated because they don't need to be. My moher-in-law doesn't want a thing to do with Brian's diabetes; she doesn't want to know anything about it, and refuses to learn. She won't take him anywhere unless I or my husband go with her.
I think we need to keep writing our letters, attending our meetings (web or physical) for idea-generating and fund-raising, and serving in whatever capacity we can to make the wheels turn. We certainly need all the "home-grown" activists for this we can get. We have to keep hammering the government and any other organization/facility/institution that
1. insulin is not a cure
2. it's the disease, stupid!
3. we need a real cure
4. look at the expense of this damned condition, never mind the lousy lifestyle (more likely to get to the government folks) and the prognosis/statistics for complications and early death
I think you're right. Keep on keeping on.