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Horrible Things Happen to Wonderful People

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            I’m sure you’ve heard this before. Good people always have the worst of luck, right? It’s always the way life works. This story is about the most wonderful man in the world who was just living his life when he was hit with a crippling and life threatening disease. He turned his life around even though no one thought it would be possible. 

            I've always loved my dad with all my heart. My parents have been divorced for a majority of my life and I haven’t actually minded it so much. I mean, two different houses, four parents instead of two, breaks from each parent and celebrating two Christmases. Who wouldn’t want that? Plus getting the opportunity to go to San Diego just to see him? It’s fantastic. My dad is the laid-back parent. All he wants is to see my two siblings and I smile all the time. He is so caring and considerate; he has always been my role model. That will never change. 

            Last year, my dad fell very ill. No one knew what was wrong with him and he did not go to the doctor. He slept all the time, did not get up to do much and was physically exhausted all of the time. Because of this, he would never get the time to call everyday like we usually do or even get much time to eat. He was always asleep and everyone was so worried about him. Finally, when he made it to the doctor, they diagnosed him with type 2 diabetes. When I got this phone call telling me this, I cried for hours. It was partly relief and partly worries. I did not know a single thing about diabetes. How in the world could I help him through this? All he ever wanted was the best for me and my siblings. How could something so bad happen to him? So I decided to research about diabetes to better help my dad.  

            Luckily for my dad, type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and it is easily treated. For this disease, the body does not get enough insulin or the cells just choose to ignore the insulin all together. Insulin is very important for the body because it helps us to use glucose for energy. When a person eats, their body breaks down the sugars and starches from the food into glucose which is the energy we run on. Insulin takes the sugar from our blood and places it into our cells. It was very important for my dad to switch his diet to become healthier. Counting the amount of sugar in his food all the time isn’t too easy for him but he does it. It is really beneficial for his health.

            My dad lost a lot of weight and began eating way healthier. It wasn’t easy by any means, but my dad can do anything. He did not let this disease take over his life and take the easy way out. Not only did overcoming this difficult obstacle help him but it helped his whole family as well. Everyone saw what he could do; the impossible. Going from junk food to healthy food; from too much sugar to almost no sugar whatsoever. This motivated a lot of people. If my dad could do that, anyone can do anything they put their mind to. My dad is alive and healthy today, something the doctors believed to be impossible when they first saw him come into the hospital. This event made me prouder than ever to call my dad, my dad.