I got it at eight and diabetes wasn't so out there as it is now. The knowledge of it is was very little compare to now. As a diabetic for forty years now I can say that it's been a long road one that I don't wish on my worse enemy. However, I can say that I'm blessed even after loosing my kidney function at the age of 24. Right before I got married my kidneys stop functioning and I went on dialysis for about four years. I finally received a kidney transplant from a decease donor. The doctors had explained the risks of having a child and they advised me to wait two years before planning on having one. You see I had once given up on being a mother. The doctors had given me no hope and circumstances were not allowing me to become pregnant. However, I became pregnant after the transplant and I had mixed feelings, I was grateful, excited, afraid for my baby and I remember that all I wanted was to have a healthy child. I took very good care of myself and It wasn't an easy pregnancy because there were many appt's to see the doctor, nutritionist and I can't forget how the doctor's made such a big deal. (miracle) Well, I can say now that I have a healthy sixteen year old girl...beautiful, athletic, smart and did I mention healthy? Yes I do. However, the struggling didn't stop there. After having Gabriella I lost the transplant. I experienced an acute kidney failure and once again I went back on dialysis. Well, my husband and I raised our child. We were a team and he is my hero. I have to say that I did another four years of dialysis and when my antibodies allowed me to have another transplant my husband donated his kidney in 2000 and it's been working for 13 years now. I still have diabetes. In 2009 I had a pancreas transplant which failed. Yes, it's been difficult but you can't let diabetes stop you from your blessings. Be Blessed.

Raquel Aponte
Plainsboro, NJ