The Lilly 25 year diabetes medal

My mom was a person with diabetes. I have written about it many times. So this blog is not so much about my mother, but more about me and what receiving the Lilly 25 year award meant.

I have had diabetes for 41 years. A few months back a friend of mine said she had received her 25 year medal from Eli Lilly Journey awards program. I inquired, about the medal, she showed me a picture of it and I then asked the inevitable question, what proof does one need. She explained the program to me and how to qualify and I proceeded with the task at hand. It was really fairly easy to qualify and soon I found myself in possession of my very own 25 year award medal.

Receiving the medal

I received the medal shortly before my 41st diaversity. I do not have much of an explanation as to why I waited so long to reach out to Lilly for the award. I think that when I actually passed my 25th year I really did not care. Before I became a Person With Diabetes, My mom and I would talk about reaching the 25 year mark. She would say this would be a big deal to her, after all in her day 25 years was almost an unheard of accomplishment for a person with diabetes.

I do not know if mom made it or not. I believe she did, but if she did we did not make a big deal of it. By the time she would have made it mom was blind, had significant neuropathy, her feet were disfigured and she was using dialysis to survive. In the whole scheme of things, making it to 25 years was the least of our celebrations. For me passing 25 years reminded me of my mom’s struggles and when I reached 25 years I really just could not face it.

41 years

Flash forward to my 41st year and I felt different. Maybe I had gained some perspective? Or maybe I grew up, it is really difficult to say why I was drawn to the award, but I was. Now it sits on my shelf alongside other mementos of life achievements I am proud of. I suppose it takes perspective to apply for the medal and I had gained enough to apply this year.

When my medal arrived, I recalled my mom and me discussing how she would feel about getting a 25 year medal. As I held my medal for the first time I thought, this medal is in the wrong hands. I was overcome with the idea that the medal belongs to my mom.

Oh sure, I had achieved it and I do not know if mom made it for 25 years or not. After all, I was a child when she was diagnosed and in those days the date of diagnosis was not called a diaversary. So I do not know if my mom was a 25 year diabetic or not. If she did I do not have the medal and if she didn’t I wanted to correct the oversight.

That takes me to present day. When I held this 25 year award I felt it was in the wrong hands. It was really meant for my mom. So after a couple of months and on a nice summer day I took the medal to my mom’s grave. I posted it on her grave and I told her how proud I am of her and her 25 year accomplishment.

Pioneer

It is true mom may not have ‘technically’ been a 25 year medal winner. But looking back on things she was a pioneer. She participated as a control subject in one of the first insulin pump studies. She was one of the first people in the country to have laser treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy, and she was one of the first to have a vitrectomy. Her case was written about in papers in medical journals and she cared for other children with diabetes when others could not. So yes, she may or may not have made it to 25 years, but to me she is a warrior that blazed a hundred trails that we walk down today. If she did not make it, she was close, and while I have no standing to do so I awarded her the 25 year medal.

I think if she had already attained the medal she deserved another one for getting me to 25 years. You see I could never have made it for 41 years without mom blazing my trail. It is true no one can live my life for me and yes, I am responsible for making it, but in a larger context my mother gave me the tools, and determination to make it 25 years so this medal is as much hers as mine.

It is true, I do not have official standing to award my mother this medal, but I think most people will agree she deserves it. So mom, I did not need to go to your grave for you to know that I have awarded this medal to you. But I needed to go there so I can say forever more, this is my mother’s 25 year medal. I will give it to one of your great children some day and they will know it is your medal and that you did your part to make it possible for others to live with diabetes. I am so proud of your impact in my everyday life. Mom you were a warrior, this is a token of how much I appreciate your contributions.

I love you mom and thank you for life, and the life you have given me.

If you would like information about the Lilly Journey awards please click here.

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