Ryan turned six a few days ago. He is an amazing little boy. He loves people. He has a tender heart. He remembers special things that most little boys his age wouldn’t. He notices. He is simply just a loveable little boy. So I wasn’t surprised with the invitation list he made for his birthday party nor the people who came. He invited (he literally made the list himself) 22 families . . . fourteen of them came totaling 43 including the five of us. It was good . . . no, it was great. He smiled all night. His sugars stayed in pretty good range and even with the cake and ice cream.
But I’m sharing today not because I am proud of Ryan (and, mind you, I could NOT be more proud of that boy). I share because I’m proud of my church family and friends. Not too long after Ryan was dx’d, we purchased 100 JDRF Cure Diabetes jelly bracelets. Ryan’s medical bracelet is a blue jelly and this was a way for Ryan to share his disease, ask for the prayer of others for a cure but mainly for Ryan and it was incredibly comforting to him. He gave them out at church, at school, we mailed them to extended family and friends. We went through all 100 of them. I am now on my second batch of 100 and carry them with me so Ryan can give them to whoever he chooses (plus, I often have people at church ask for one as they see others wear them). But I looked around as saw a good number of people wearing the bracelets to the party. It was good for Ryan’s heart . . . it was good for mine.
Despite the disease, life is good. It tends to bring out some good things, like the fact that we have friends who love and support our son and show it. It makes us appreciate the little things, like a dimpled smile and remember the big things, like celebrating a birthday that we all too often take for granted. Ryan was so sick in December when he was dx’d; they were preparing us for major organ damage. But God spared him. And we celebrate a birthday,with D coming along but rather silently that day, with him happy and healthy.
JDRF Bracelets . . . here's a few of them . . . and there were more!
Embrace Diabetes 
Comments on: "Blue Jelly Fever" (2)
I had to laugh reading this… when Liam was diagnosed we also made a large order of jelly bracelets for friends and family to wear along with Liam wearing his medical bracelet. We’ve always told him that he’s not in this alone, we’re all on his team, and that was our way of showing him that.
We just ordered our second bath, this time with his walk team name on them, and he LOVES giving them out. So funny to hear Ryan does the same thing. I think they would have a lot of fun together!
My blue diabetes bracelet is is one of my most cherished pieces of “jewelry”!