'You're allowed to be upset for your child. Just don't get stuck there.’

Heather Jackson is a business owner and incredibly powerful writer who I first came across when she shared a letter she’d written on the anniversary of her son’s first diaversary.

In 2019, Heather was adapting to life as a family of four when her oldest son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just after his third birthday. It understandably turned her world upside down.

Heather, along with her husband James struggled to stay upright as the terror and shock of caring for a child with type 1 who couldn’t yet articulate his needs set in. She describes the grief she felt for both the loss of her son’s health, and the trajectory they were on as a family.

Four years on and Heather generously shares with me how her feelings towards the illness and what it means for her son’s life have shifted, getting to a place of more acceptance and less fear without dismissing the tougher days, and the boundaries they’ve put in place to ensure they remain a strong family unit.

Heather offers so much wisdom, perspective and plenty of advice for any parents of young children with type 1 diabetes. Parts of this conversation are indeed emotional, but it’s Heather’s pride in what they’ve overcome as a family that really shone through for me.

FIND HEATHER:
Say hello on Instagram.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Insulet, the founders of Pod Therapy - only found with Omnipod.

Pod Therapy uses a tubeless, wearable and waterproof Pod that continuously delivers insulin for up to three days.

Controlled wirelessly by its handheld companion, the personal diabetes manager, it allows you to personalise your insulin doses according to your own daily needs - no multiple daily injections and no tubes.

Head to https://www.omnipod.com/ to find out more.