Successful Support

(Subtitle: The Post where I Overuse Exclamation Points!!!!)

We started planning way back in December.  We were so excited when the day of our first event finally arrived.  On Thursday evening, Joan, Erin, Rachel, Kathleen and I gathered together for our first JDRF Adult Type One Support Group event.  What would happen?  Plenty of people had RSVP'd, but how many would they really show up?  What would go wrong?  (Because when you plan an event, you always worry about what will go wrong.  Or is that just me??)

I arrived early and saw a section of the bar area reserved for a private party, just as we’d been promised.  Terrific!!  Until I checked with the bartender and found out that our group was not that private party.  Okay, at least we were getting the “something always goes wrong” out of the way early.  We were welcome to use the rest of the bar area, but we quickly realized that wouldn’t work when our planning group couldn’t even squeeze in with the regular Happy Hour patrons.  Luckily, we snagged two big tables in the dining area - problem solved!!

Soon people started arriving and the whole night really took off!  I can’t even tell you how much fun it was to meet so many new friends with diabetes!  We met two women diagnosed over 50 years ago.  We met a brother and sister who both have Type 1.  We met a woman diagnosed less than a year ago.  We met a woman who has been pumping (if I remember correctly) for about two weeks.  One couple squeezed the meet up in even though they were leaving for vacation at 4:00 the next morning.  An excellent friend drove from another state to join us!  Altogether we had over 20 people in attendance.  We sipped, we nibbled, we talked about all things diabetes and all things not . . .  we had a blast.  It was like one big party with a great group of friends, and it never for one minute felt like we had only met that night.  I’m still always so amazed at how quickly the diabetes bond brings us together.

And over and over, my new friends expressed the same sentiment.  “I was so excited to find out about this group!”  “I’ve been asking for something like this for years, but there was never anything.”  “An adult support group was just what I’ve been wishing for”.

As far as I can tell, our first event was a big success!  I’m so grateful to have helped make this group happen.  I’m thrilled to be working with the other wonderful members of the Adult Outreach committee.  And I can’t wait to start working on our next event!!  Thank you, Joan, Erin, Rachel, Kathleen and Kady.  (We missed you Thursday, Kady!!)  And a HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to join us.  I can’t wait to see you all again!!