Take this Pin and Blog it

Posted on April 16, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is day 16 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and the prompt is: Pinboard.

So, today’s challenge was to create a create a pinboard on pinterest and pin three things related to our health focus, and then share the images and the reasons for choosing them in a blog post.  Here are my three.

Source: grainedit.com via Mike on Pinterest

The Diabetes Online Community is made up of individuals from all around the world who are united by a common cause.  We all live with a type of diabetes.

Some of my dearest friends, and folks that I consider to be like family, are people whom I’ve never met in person because we live hundreds or thousands of miles away from each other.  Yet, through Twitter, Facebook and other social media venues, we’ve been able to form awesome friendships.

And occasionally, we even get together for “family reunions.”

It just goes to show the power of social media.  No matter the distance between us, we are all neighbors in the DOC.

Being diagnosed with congestive heart failure and battling to regain some of the strength my heart had lost has, in many ways, been like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle.

My heart is broken and I’ve endured the painstaking process of determining exactly what the problem was and what may have caused it to break, ie…gathering the puzzle pieces, and then had to figure out how to treat the problem, ie…put the pieces back together to make a properly functioning heart.

I’ve been successful in finding many of the pieces and putting them back in their place. And my heart is much stronger than it was three years ago. There are still missing pieces, though, and I’m still working at putting my heart back together. It is, in effect, a work in progress. And one that I refuse to give up on.

From the time we get out of bed each morning until the time we go to bed each night, and even in the middle of the night, those of us living with a type of diabetes have to give it the finger.We all endure the pain of the lancet in order to get that precious drop of blood from our finger tip to coat those insanely expensive test strips in order to test our blood glucose levels.

Some times, I’m able to do that without thinking about it.  But other times, it hurts so bad that I do end up giving diabetes the finger. Well, the spoken word version of the finger, anyway.

When I shot this picture several months back, it was only partially done in humor. I was having a rough day and felt nothing but hatred for this disease. And so, being the brash and bold guy that I am, I posted the picture here on my blog. And eventually on Pinterest. And I can’t tell you how many people have told me just how well they can relate to it.
Posted in Diabetes, Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Heart, Photos | 4 Comments

I can haz writing stylez

Posted on April 15, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is day 15 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and the prompt is: Writing with Style.

Writing stylez?  I haz that? Oh yez, I definitely haz many writing stylez.

Some times, my posts are serious. Some times my posts are funny.  And some times, they are seriously funny.  It all depends on the topic and the mood I’m in at the time.

The more serious posts tend to be straight to the point.  The lighthearted posts may be a little drawn out.  Either way, they get the job done.

Some days, I’m able to just sit down at the computer and start writing.  Other times, I break out my handy dandy notebook and start jotting down the thoughts that are bouncing around inside my head.  Those tend to be the more serious blog posts.  The ones that take the longest to write.

I firmly believe that the harder a blog post is to write, the more it needs to be written.

Most of the time, I come up with a title before I start writing.  I find that it helps in developing the tone of the post.

No matter which style my blog posts take on from day to day, they all have one thing in common.  They are always done in WordPress. 😉

Posted in Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Humor | 6 Comments

A Pretty Cool Day

Posted on April 14, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Post for day 14 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and the prompt is: My Dream Day.

This prompt asks us to describe an ideal day, including details of how we’d spend our time, who we’d spend it with, and how we’d make it happen.

To me, a pretty cool day would start with April and I being able to spend time together away from home. Then I would add in meeting up with old friends from the DOC and traveling to Chicago together to meet up with new friends from the DOC.  And then we would all spend the day at a Diabetes EXPO, sharing the story of how social media (Twitter) brought us all together in one place.  That would make for a pretty cool day, don’t you think?

And how would I make that happen?  Well, I’d probably try to find out if the local ADA chapter was planning a trip to Chicago for the expo and, if so, I’d make arrangements to go with them.  Some of my friends would do the same.  The on the day of the trip, April & I would drive 2 hours from Fort Wayne to meetup with friends in Indianapolis and take the 4 hour bus ride to Chicago.  We’d take the trip, have our meetups, enjoy the expo, and then return home.  We’d all be exhausted from the day, but it would be worth it.

And, it was worth it.  That pretty cool day happened Saturday.   Here’s a photo to prove it.

L-R: April, Mike Hoskins, Marie, Me, and Jeff

More on the Diabetes Expo in the coming days.  Stay tuned.

Posted in D-Meetups, Diabetes, Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Photos, Shout outs, Travel | 4 Comments

What I Can’t Live Without

Posted on April 13, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is day 13 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and today’s prompt is: 10 Things I Couldn’t Live Without.

From the pit of my left ventricle, here are the top 10 things I can’t live without.  Here’s we go…

10. The Medications that help keep my heart beating. (Life Support)

9. The meter I use to check my blood sugar.

8. My Fitbit.

7. The calendar on my cell phone.

6. A camera.

5. Pens and paper.

4. A sense of humor.

3. Testicular fortitude.

2. Support and encouragement from my family and friends.

1. My best friend of nearly ten years.  April.

Posted in Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Life | Leave a comment

Needs a Caption

Posted on April 12, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is day 12 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and today’s prompt is: Stream of Consciousness.

Today’s prompt asked us to start writing and just let things flow where they may.  Just write, don’t edit, and post.  But honestly, my brain is mush right now and I’m not up to that challenge.  So, I decided to share a silly animal photo instead.

Just for giggles, I think this photo could use a caption.  So, here’s your challenge.  In keeping with the spirit of the prompt, post the first one liner you think of.

And…..go!

Posted in Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Humor, Photos | 6 Comments

A Theme Song

Posted on April 11, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is day 11 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and today’s prompt is: Theme Song.

The prompt for today asked us to imagine that our health focus or blog was getting its own theme song.   We were asked to think about the lyrics and about the music that would accompany them.

After a bit of thought and an exchange about different songs with my friend, Courtney, I found this video on YouTube that I think fits fairly well.  I had heard the song previously and liked the message in it, but had forgotten about it.  I’m glad I found it again.

So, do you think it fits?  Let me know.

PS: Thanks Courtney. 🙂

Posted in Diabetes, Health, Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Heart, Shout outs | 7 Comments

Dear Mike

Posted on April 10, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is day 10 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and today’s prompt is: Dear 16-year-old-me.

Today’s challenge was to write a letter to ourselves at age 16.  As I sat pondering how to respond to the prompt, I remembered the letter I wrote to an 18-year-old-me during National Health Blog Post Month back in November.  After reading that post and giving it some thought, I concluded that nothing would change between the letter I wrote then and what I would write now.  So, today I’m sharing that letter again.  Enjoy!

Dear Mike,

I am the ghost of your wild and crazy future.  I’m writing today to tell you about some exciting and horrifying events that will unfold in your future.  Let me tell you, you’re in for one hell of a ride.  So, lets begin.

I regret to inform you that your 18th year will be a rough one.  The day of your birthday, you’ll be at the hospital with a beloved uncle, hoping and praying that he’ll recover and be home soon.  A couple months later, just an hour after you’ve called the hospital to relay the news that you’ve aced your senior project presentation, your uncle will die with you having the chance to say good bye.
You’ll go to your senior prom two days later, but it won’t be a joyous occasion.  Two weeks after that, you’ll graduate high school.

You’ll head to college in August, 250 miles from home.  You’ll be lonely and scared, but you’ll adjust rather well over time.  And you’ll meet the love of your life on the first day your on campus.  And 9 years later, you’ll still be in love with her.

You’ll experience some tough breaks in college.  Like the broken leg you’ll endure just the first semester of your junior year.  You’ll question your ability to complete the semester and graduate on time because of this injury.  Yet, in your usual  stubborn way, you’ll trudge through that storm like every other.  You’ll have plenty of help, of course, but your own resilience will amaze you.  And everyone else.

You’ll graduate from college on time, and with honors.  You’ll struggle to make ends meet for a while, like so many will, but you’ll land a decent job.  And you’ll enjoy what you do. For a while anyway.  Like everyone else.

Then, just months after finally becoming eligible for health insurance at work, you’ll develop an infection.  A yeast infection.  And it won’t go away.  You’ll finally relent and go to the doctor.  The doctor will subject you to a battery of tests, and will diagnose you with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure.

You’ll fear for your life and lose much sleep because of haunting thoughts of dying in your sleep because your heart will be so weak.  You’ll learn to manage your diabetes quickly, and get into a routine of testing, medicating, and eating properly.  And you’ll use your knowledge of the internet to seek out information about your conditions.  And to find support.

After discovering social networks and blogs devoted to diabetes, and seeing the value of them, you’ll launch a blog of your own.  You’ll tell your story, eventually be published in a national diabetes magazine, and travel the country to meet other people with diabetes.

And through the experiences with your health, advocacy efforts, etc… you’ll find a reason and purpose for living.  And finally, you’ll realize how short and precious life really is.  You’ll commit yourself to living each day to the fullest.

So, there you have it.  A glimpse into your future.  Probably not at all what you expected, but it is what it is.  And you’ll learn to deal with it.  And maybe even be thankful for the experiences you have along the way.

And remember, “Life is not a journey to the grave with intentions of arriving safely in a pretty well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming … WOW! What a ride!”

Sincerely,
An Older, Wiser You.

Posted in Diabetes, Health, Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Heart, Lessons Learned, Life | 6 Comments

Keep Calm

Posted on April 9, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

Today is day 9 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and today’s prompt is: Keep Calm and Carry On.

Today’s challenge was to create our own version of the popular Keep Calm and Carry On posters focused on the health issues with which we live.  Again, since I have two main health issues, I’ve made a poster for each.

Type 2 Diabetes Congestive Heart Failure

Keep Calm and Comment On. 🙂

Posted in Diabetes, Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Heart, Inspiration, Photos | 5 Comments

Just Post Something

Posted on April 8, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

So, today is day 8 of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge and today’s prompt is: Best conversation I had this week.

For some reason or another, I’ve struggled with writing a response to this prompt today.  When I tweeted that fact earlier today and a brief exchange between Kerri, Ashley & I followed.

Not the most exciting of conversations, but I did get a reminder that I needed.  The point of #HAWMC is to write every day.  The prompts are there to inspire us; to help get us started.  Some times they help.  Some times they don’t.  If it not, find something else to write about.  Just post something.

Honestly, I think that’s why I never seem to complete these blogging events.  The perfectionist in me wants to respond to every one of the prompts.  And I get overwhelmed by trying to do that and eventually just stop.

Now that I think about it, I’m reminded of a bit of advice that I’m always hearing from someone at work, yet never seem to remember.  I’ll leave you with it.

“Never let the quest for perfection keep you from getting the job done.”

PS: Thanks, Ashley!  🙂

Posted in Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Lessons Learned, Shout outs | 3 Comments

There’s More to Life

Posted on April 7, 2012 by mydiabeticheart

This is day seven of the Health Activist Writers Month Challenge and Today’s Prompt is: Health Activist Choice.

When living with chronic health issues that require constant attention, it is easy to become so consumed by those thoughts that we lose sight of the fact that there’s more to life that just those health issues.  Sure, they are always with us, but they should not be the center of attention all the time.

I much prefer to devote my time and attention to the people and things in my life that are the most important to me.  Like April and the time we get to spend together.

For the past few years, April has talked about the idea spending a day at a local park, just lying under a tree and enjoying being out in the beautiful weather.  Maybe take the camera along and take pictures of the blossoms on some of the trees.  For one reason or another, though, that never happened. Well, not until last Sunday afternoon, anyway.

The idea came up in conversation that morning and since the weather was beautiful that day, we decided to jump at the opportunity to go.  So, we grabbed a blanket, our cameras, and a sandwich to share from Subway, and went to the park for an impromptu picnic.  As you can see, we found a nice place on a hill beneath a couple of trees to pitch our blanket.

Oh sure, I checked my blood sugar and took my dinner time injection of Byetta before I started eating, but as soon as that was out of the way, my diabetes was pushed to the back burner and my attention returned to what was really important at the moment, April and our time together.

We had our meal and spent a while just laying on the blanket, taking in the view of our surroundings.  And before we left the park, we took pictures of the blossoms on the trees and managed to snap some shots of each other in the process.  It was a lot of fun.

It’s so important to remember that our loved ones also endure a lot of grief because of the health issues with which we are diagnosed.  I’m quite thankful that I’ve had April by my side through my battle with congestive heart failure.  I know that it has been every bit as scary for her as it has me.  And, like all spouses of PWDs, April has dealt with the crap that goes along with that role, too.  The highs, the lows, and the god awful mood swings, too.

So, anytime there’s an opportunity to do something fun that allows us to think beyond those other things, we jump on it.  And we do our best to enjoy every minute we have during those times.

April finally got the day in the park that she’s wanted for so long and I got a souvenir of that day.

My new favorite photo of her.

Posted in Health Activist Writers Month Challenge, Lessons Learned, Life, Photos | 7 Comments