Robots Keep Me Alive: Diabetes
Oh, Hello there.
I see my headline has intrigued you enough to stop by and find out what all this crazy talk about Robots is, Hmm? Don't worry, I'm not a Terminator sent into the past to destroy human kind (as far as I know...). What I do know, however, is that I am a Type 1 Diabetic and have been for just over 20 years now, since I was 7.
The "Robot" I make reference to is actually a pretty nifty device called an Insulin Pump that allows me to have a fun little tube with a very thin piece of plastic stuck in me 24 hours a day. I bolded that for sympathetical emphasis. This pump keeps me alive by delivering Insulin to me throughout the day, and again when I eat food in order to keep my blood sugar levels in a safe range. Or to attempt to at least, it's not really as easy as "push this button", but you get the idea... Incase you want a visual, or a sneakpeak of my bum where it's usually located, I've got you covered!
The reason for this wonderful GoFundMe page about my Personal Robotic Insulin Control Kit (also known as my P.R.I.C.K.; joke intended) is that unfortunately during a vacation to Thailand a few weeks ago, my Robot decided it was going to stay on vacation... forever. It found itself in a not-as-waterproof-as-advertised case while I was swimming, and eventually we parted ways. While I respect it's decision to live a life of freedom and carelessness, this leaves me in a bit of a perdicament... considering it kept me alive.
Luckily I had a Loaner pump with me incase of such emergencies. However, I must return this Loaner pump within 60 days, and will be left with nothing. While I used to inject myself 4 times a day when younger (before I had a pump), I've been on one now for 8 years and going back to injections would be a massively drastic lifestyle change that I'm not sure I would be able to cope with [especially considering my huge fear of needles. As a Diabetic. Convenient...].
Now, living in the wonderful country of Canada surely our Healthcare System covers such a device, No? Well, correct you are! It does in fact. If you are under the age of 25. Alas, I do not meet this criteria, and thus have no coverage for such a device and am forced to pay the $7000 out of pocket. While I'm definitely a capable, working adult - I don't know a lot of people that have $7000.00 sitting around. I most certainly do not.
But Dave, your GoFundMe goal is only $4000.00? Right you are! I don't expect to have things just handed to me and as such feel it would be unsuitable to ask for the entire price. The remaining cost of the Pump will be covered by my own savings. This is simply an effort to relieve me from having to cover the entire cost myself. This entire fund will go towards the cost of a new Insulin Pump, and not Beer - Promise.
As an important note for this Campaign, if you've read through all of this and simply can't afford to donate - don't fret! You can still help. There is a petition you can sign that is attempting to remove the "Under 25 Only" coverage for Insulin Pumps. Please consider visiting the link below and sign away if you'd like to help support this:
If nothing else, hopefully you got a good laugh out of my page. I really, truly, appreciate any and all support and help; but also understand that everyone has problems - whether medical, financial, job-related or anything else, so understand if this isn't something you can help with. Simply trying to utilize my options!
Thank you so much for reading this massive story and thank you to everyone for their help. While I won't harass you to tell everyone you know about this, it would be awesome if you wanted to share it on your Facebook/Social Media to help reach a bigger audience. Maybe Oprah will see it and will give EVERYONE an Insulin Pump! ;)
Thanks!
Also: Check out my rad Tattoo from 8 years ago!
Diabetes Represent!
