For those who have followed me, you know that I initially built my wealth out of fear, of some expensive disease/illness hitting us, putting me and my family in bankruptcy, like so many others before us. Never did I imagine this.
Last week Friday, as I was about ready to publish my latest post when Mrs. Mi10 noticed something wrong with our boy. She was initially dismissed by our pediatrics clinic (read about it here) but with persistence was seen. She went, came home and only 40 minutes later the phone rang. Please come back right away… Long story short, last Friday our boy was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. WTF!!! What did he do to deserve this? I always feared for some illness to hit me or at worse Mrs. Mi10. I never imagined it would be one of my children.
They talk about the 5 stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I’m not sure if or how they apply here. There is no denial, he’s got it. Mrs. Mi10 somewhat always feared it, as she’s seen it up close in her family. For me, it never crossed my mind, but here it is nonetheless.
There is anger, but I don’t know who or what to direct it at. There is no one to blame. They still don’t know what causes it and what angers me most is that it is so random. It feels so unfair that the sweetest, kindest kid I know is struck with this.
I can’t figure out how bargaining might apply here but that’s maybe because I’m not at that stage yet. I’m already wondering if my background in Big Data could somehow contribute to a cure or treatment. Don’t know if that is bargaining or just wishful/delusional thinking.
Depression, I can see that coming, but right now we need to be there for our boy. Our own state of mind is the least of our concerns. We cry, but try to desperately hide it from the kids. As parents, we desperately try to keep a happy face about all of it in front of the kids. We tell him how its all a big adventure and how it makes him special.
Acceptance is already there and I actually feel guilty for accepting it as fast as I have. Not accepting it seems again delusional. Besides not accepting it could also be dangerous for his well being.
So there you have it. This why I haven’t posted in a while and this is why I’ll probably be posting less going forward. I already know there will be plenty to write about when it comes to this disease and money, an expensive disease like this to a PF writer should be like an election year to Comedy Central, but right now it isn’t. Right now we need to focus on our sons well being. Our financial well being, I can’t deny, already on my mind, will have to wait. Mrs. Mi10 and myself have been thrown into world of which we know very little. Yet we need to learn so much for the safety and well being of our child. Every day, every meal now seems to be about counting carbs, blood sugar count, units of insulin and monitoring our child. Not doing so can cost him his legs, his eyesight or worse, his life.
We’ve seen plenty of examples of kids and adults that have gone on to do great things in sports, science and life so we’re a little hopeful as well. We’re also amazed about our 6 year old boy who is taking all of this in strides. He’s already showing off to his teachers how he can draw his own blood for testing. He’s a real trooper, which gives us hope as well.
For now I’ll keep tweeting/re-tweeting great contributions from my friends in the Personal Finance world and I hope you’ll bear with me and the absence of any now posts of mine.
Thank you and stay healthy
So sorry to hear, Maarten. Hope things get better.
Thank you, things seem bad now but given how our boy is reacting to all of this, we have high hopes.
As you note, sometimes the randomness of life can be awfully unfair. Be well, my friend and I’m hopeful you and your family are able to persevere in the best way possible considering the circumstances.
Thank you James, we’ll make this work. We just have to figure out how.
That’s bad news 🙁 One of the (bigger) reasons we’re striving for financial independence is to make sure that everyone’s fine if something were to happen to me. Health is of such importance, and also something we take for granted so easily. It’s a bit like breathing; you don’t appreciate it until the air is gone.
I am sure that you’ll make this work! There’s a lot that needs to be done, but also try to focus on what you, and he, still can do (which is a lot), instead of just on the things you can’t.
Best of luck to you and your family (also coming from ms. Bee who you actually know personally)!
Thank you. This was my primary goal for building a nest egg from day one. That nest egg turned into financial independence once it was there, shortly followed by my early retirement. I never expected it to be one of my children so that is the hardest blow. So other than for my boy, no violins required. I’m still young and can go back to work should the need arise. Our son is taking it like a trooper. Other than the testing and mandatory carbs nothing seems to have changed for him. We are still in the early days, so who knows what is yet to come. Like you said we’ll make this work.
Maarten, so sorry to hear your news. Our niece, has type 1 and was diagnosed around age 12. A few years into the disease she began using an attached pump and it made a huge difference in her quality of life. But it needs to be monitored. She got married last year and is doing well.
A 6 year old’s brain and emotions are still developing. There’s a naivety at his age that will probably deem him less frightened than you and your wife are, which is a good thing.
P.S. I truly believe a cure will be found during his lifetime.
Thank you, we’re certainly hoping for the cure as well. From what I’ve read very exciting things are happening. An artificial pancreas would be a nice start. I’ve just learned that due to the FDA, developments are applied a lot later to the public here in the US than other parts of the world. That part is a bit disappointing. He is indeed great about it. He started testing himself on day 2 and with some oversight I’m sure he’ll want to start administering insulin soon as well.