Diaversary may not be a term you are familiar with. It may not make much sense to you, on the surface. For me, and approximately 300,000 other Canadians living with Type 1 diabetes, it holds a special place in our lives. A Diaversary is a birthday, of sorts – the anniversary of the day one was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. For me, that day was May 23rd, and this year marked 30 years.
Now – I shouldn’t speak for all Type 1’s as I know not everyone celebrates this unique milestone. In fact, I’ve had people ask me why I would want to celebrate such a traumatic and life-changing day. For me though, it’s a celebration of resilience, adaptation, and success, all achieved on a daily basis. I’d say that’s worth celebrating.
I was fortunate enough to host a large group of friends, family, and co-workers at Banting House here in London for a tour, featuring the fantastically crafted shirts you see made by none other than Jessica from our office – a great surprise. If you have not been to Banting House, I highly recommend taking an hour or two and attending for a tour. The volunteers and staff are incredibly passionate and great at what they do, and there is a wealth of information and artifacts to take in. Dr. Banting’s life story is truly fascinating, and I can promise you that you will leave having learned a wealth of new things.
Lee Bowmen
