Double D and JFK

It's official. I'm a Double D- double diseased. Actually, I am triple diseased. But doubly scary diseased. 5 minutes ago I was formally diagnosed with Addison's disease. Now not only do I worship JFK, but I'm biologically diseased like him.

It makes me scared but rather proud because every time I feel like vomiting in the wake of this new information, I merely stare at a picture of my hero and think, if he can have this and become President, I can do anything... I can be anything and I am not going to merely be defined by my disease. I am capable. I am able to be the person I imagined I'd become as a child. I may be a Double D, but I am so much more. And look at my heroes and what they've accomplished. Thank you JFK.

Halle Berry has Type 1 Diabetes. She's pretty cool. I always wonder whether she gets anxiety about having low blood sugar on set because I know that's something I'd worry about. I think it's pretty courageous that she rocks out with her Diabetes too. Sometimes when I feel a little down about my diabetes or think that my insulin pump makes me look ugly... I look at a picture of Halle Berry and think, that's right, Us diabetics are hot too.

I guess right now I'm trying to swallow my fear with this new diagnosis. It's a lot to bear. It's scary and I want to feel alone, but I know I'm not. I know if JFK knew what was going on with me, he'd look down and tell me I'm not alone. And I've got Halle Berry. And I've got all those millions of people who have similar and different diseases right behind me- even if they don't know it or me. We are all in this together. We're all riding the same one-way escalator. We've got to have each other's backs.

So even though I am a little scared on this Dianosis Day, the 25th of November 2008, I know I can do this and I know I am strong.

I think I'm going to say in like fashion of the Kennedys, ask not what you can do for yourself, but that which you can do for others...