Living on the Bright Side with Thad Novak

image_auction_brendaThad2While promoting the Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research I asked New York Times Best Selling Author Brenda Novak if her son Thad would like to share a message with other teens about living with diabetes. Thad’s response is: “Whenever I start feeling as if it’s unfair that I have to take so many shots and test my blood so many times a day, I think of people who have it worse. At least my disease is one I can fight by trying to eat right and manage well. Looking on the bright side helps.”

Wow! That I am so impressed. If all my patients I’d treated in the past had that kind of attitude the would have done much better. Thad is a great example for his peers. I know it’s tough having to eat different than your friends, and poke yourself so many times a day to check your blood sugar. He will be blessed with less complications than those patients that don’t follow the recommendations and watch their diet, exercise and keep close track of their glucose levels. What I’d like to elaborate on the most is your last sentence about looking on the bright side.

There is a story that is credited to Gulistan of Sadi’. “I was barefooted and unable to procure slippers. But when I entered the great mosque of Kufah with a sore heart and beheld a man without feet I offered thanks to the bounty of God.”

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Turning the Tide

1206563007847195796mozillaman_U-Turn.svg.medWith the alarming rise in childhood depression and suicide it is the responsibility of every parent, teacher, caregiver  and person of influence in the life of children in any capacity to become aware of what they can do to help turn the tide. I found the simple message: U Turns Allowed very inspirational.

Two authors that have addressed these topics in their novels are Michelle Ashman Bell in Summer in Paris, and Jodi Piccoult in The Pact. In Bell’s YA novel the protagonist is a great role model. She overcomes many obstacles and turns her life around while keeping focus on her goals.

National attention has increased on the phenomenon of Teen Suicide in the past month since celebrity Marie Osmond’s eighteen year old son, Michael Blosil jumped to his death on February 26th, 2010. This is so pervasive that it is not just the rich, the famous, or the poor buts every child in every culture, in every neighborhood is affected.

Be a part of the Solution.