Let's STEP IT OUT!
Many of you know that I work for the ADA but most of you many not know why. My entire adult life has been focused on serving, serving God, serving my community and supporting my husband while he served in the Army. I have been blessed with an opportunity to work for and alongside an organization that serves those impacted by diabetes. The mission of the ADA hits the heart of who I am and it allows me to use my voice, my time and my talent towards serving others in an impactful way.
In 2010, I lived in Killeen, TX near my older brother and his daughter Dasia. It was a strategic move while my husband was deployed to have my brother help with our three sons. My brother and I somewhat co-parented during this season. I took care of after school homework and he took care of evening sports like football practice. Well because I was the "fun auntie" I took my boys and my neice for Dairy Queen or Sonic slushies daily after school. Unknown to my brother and I, my neice was a type 1 diabetic. After about three weeks of my fun auntie activites, Dasia was in Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). It almost cost Dasia her life. She was hospitalized for a little over a week while we were thrust into diabetes education and management. She was 11 years old---how did we not know?! How did we not see the signs? I felt an enormous amount of guilt while she laid in that hospital bed. Well over the past 13 years I have watched Dasia become a diabetes warrior and champion! She was inspired to serve others like herself by becoming an nurse and she now educates others in South Louisiana on how to become thrivers in lieu of survivors!
Dasia Renee Collins, this STEP OUT IS IN HONOR OF YOU!