I was diagnosed with diabetes during my sixth grade year of middle school. I took a few weeks off and when it came time to go back, I was nervous. I had spent the past few weeks barely leaving my mom's side and now I would be away from her for most of the day. A few days before I was to return to school the principle called my mom. He told her that the school nurse, the one we'd met with and the one I was already somewhat comfortable with, would not be a school for the rest of the year. He husband was in an accident and she was taking a leave of absence. He assured my mom that the substitute nurse was just as great as the regular one. My mom asked me if I would mind if she, and the school nurse, if I wanted her to, could come talk to my class when I got back. She just wanted them to be aware and know that diabetes was something they should be afraid of- I'm still me. I agreed, because I knew by that point most of my friends and people in my class knew about my diagnoses, even though I told my twin brother not to tell anyone. Somehow, everyone found out.
The day I was going back to school, I woke up bright and early. I started out with a positive attitude. That is, until I checked my blood sugar and it was in the 300's. My mom said it was probably because I was nervous and we treated and off to school I went (with my mom in tow). When we got there I saw all my friends, caught up, and everything was going great. And then... I couldn't get my locker open. I was at the wrong locker and I didn't remember my combination. I ended up crying about it because some kid made a joke along the lines of "It must be the diabetes..." I finally got over that and it was time for my mom to talk to my class. It was going well until a kid raised his hand and asked if it was contagious. Another asked if I was going to die. And another asked why I was still going to school. And another asked... you get the point. That made me upset too. I just got back and already everyone was treating me differently. They didn't even give me a chance to show them that I was still the same person or to teach them about diabetes. They had already made up their mind.
First period went okay after my mom left. But then I started feeling low. The bell rang to go to second and I went to the nurse- the substitute. I walked in behind another kid and my grade and she asked him if he had a note from a teacher, or if he'd been to his next class yet. When he said no she said "Well, then you can't be here, and same for you" I didn't know what to do. I quietly said "I think my blood sugar is low." She looked at me, with a somewhat confused look on her face and said "Are you Brea?" Yep, that's me. After that we got everything worked out. For some reason, I still think of it as a painful experience.
Next comes lunch. I knew I was going to be late because I had to go to the nurse so I asked a friend to save a seat for me. I went to the nurse and everything was good. I head to lunch and... what? No seat for me? My friend told me she tried but she couldn't. She offered to share her seat with me and try harder the next day. I accepted, not knowing where else to sit. That's when one of the teachers- the mean, grumpy, old one- came over and said- no, yelled- that we couldn't share a seat, it was against the rules. I started crying right then and there. Finally, the other teacher- the nice, young one who had a son I was friends with- came over and explained to Mr. Grumpy that it was okay, it was my first day back. They let me share a seat that day, and let my friend save me a seat from then on. I am forever grateful for that teacher and that she actually understood the situation.
Needless to say, that day was rather interesting. It wasn't the worst day, but certainly not the best. I never want to go back and relive it. It's one of those days that I remember every detail of, no matter if I want to or not.
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