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Post by booboobrewer on Jan 12, 2008 18:37:46 GMT -5
^I agree. Not downplaying the disease either, since I've known people who've had both types i and ii and it is certainly very tough.
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Jan 12, 2008 19:53:09 GMT -5
I wasn't trying to downplay the disease -- I have family members with type 2, and I've known people with type one. All I was trying to express is that while it is a bad disease, it's generally manageable. Stacey had access to some of the best doctors and medicine that money could buy, and for the most part, she was able to live her life the same as any other girl her age. There is no social stigma attached to diabetes, she is able to participate in sports and drama and school and whatever else she might want to (short of becoming one of those weird "athletes" who eat stuff competitively, and that's not really a loss), etc. Maybe I am downplaying it. It does make me a little annoyed when people act like diabetes is the worst thing in the world -- there are so many childhood illnesses that are so much worse. For a childhood disease, it's one that is well known and is able to be controlled and managed. Type II, I don't have as much sympathy for, although I am aware that people didn't realize the connection between diet and diabetes until it was too late. Still, a lot of the people who have it refuse to make the lifestyle changes necessary to not develop complications, and that I don't have any sympathy for, whatsoever.
I just think there are a lot worse things out there, and the girls do seem to realize that, which is why it may appear as though the diabetes is being downplayed. Maybe they just chose to focus on the positive aspects, which is that for all intents and purposes, Stacey is a normal, healthy adolescent girl.
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Post by aln1982 on Jan 12, 2008 20:57:54 GMT -5
i understand that diabetes is very serious--i just meant that stacey would be in a better situation than someone who didn't have money or access to some of the best doctors and specialists in the world. Agree. I know the books comment about paying for her care, too, and we know her parents certainly did care, which is good and helpful. Also agree with cpennylane that Stacey could do many things. (We all know she could have boyfriends. ;D) Sorry to jump on this again. It's just a sensitive subject for me and I was in a bad mood anyway (I know this is no excuse, though ) as I have spent all day cleaning up my old toys and stuff and am a pack rat that can rival Claudia at her worst. ;D
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Post by greer on Jan 12, 2008 21:02:58 GMT -5
i can certainly relate to that. i have waaaaaay too much stuff!
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Jan 12, 2008 21:37:15 GMT -5
^ Me too.
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lyricalangel
Sitting For The Newtons
Logan's love-bunny
Posts: 1,918
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Post by lyricalangel on Jan 13, 2008 1:03:04 GMT -5
^Me three ;D
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Post by fairy3lf2 on Jan 13, 2008 3:13:56 GMT -5
There is no social stigma attached to diabetes There was for Stacey when she found out. Remember how her classmates treated her?
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Post by greer on Jan 13, 2008 3:22:39 GMT -5
I actually feel like Stacey kind of raised awareness for diabetes, at least for our generation. since i didn't know anyone with the disease and didn't understand how serious it was, i totally wanted diabetes. stacey made diabetes sophisticated.
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Post by aln1982 on Jan 13, 2008 9:25:44 GMT -5
There was for Stacey when she found out. Remember how her classmates treated her? Agree. I was thinking this same thing. Anyway, people treat you differently when you have something like diabetes because you can't live in exactly the same way. As for Stacey raising awareness, I think she made the disease seem almost glamorous and every book basically said it was "no big deal" as long as she took care of herself. I get the impression that the books downplayed it because of how many people on here actually wanted the disease. Okay, I really need to get off this board and back to cleaning - I'm totally procrastinating. ;D
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Penny Lane
Sitting For The Arnolds
The Girl With Colitis Goes By
Posts: 2,888
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Post by Penny Lane on Jan 13, 2008 10:13:33 GMT -5
There was for Stacey when she found out. Remember how her classmates treated her? Yes, but how much of that was because of the diabetes and not because she wet the bed with Laine in it? It was bad, but she did get a new start where no one cared. I think I was thinking more about the stigma attached to say, children with AIDS, where both children and adults are afraid of them, and do really bad things. REALLY bad things, not just ignoring and mocking.
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Post by aln1982 on Jan 13, 2008 10:50:01 GMT -5
^ Agree that something like AIDS has much more of a stigma. I never thought of this. Now thinking of kids with AIDS is making me so sad. Such an awful thing for anyone to have - especially a child.
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Post by sotypical42483 on Jan 15, 2008 20:47:56 GMT -5
Abby for sure. Not only did she lose her dad, but she seemed to lose her mom at the same time. Her and Anna were 13 years old and basically raising themselves in Stoneybrook.
I think Claud absolutely had it the easiest. what were her problems? Losing her grandma, okay, but Mimi was old and it happens. What else...being stupid? Well we're told she is smart and just lazy, so wah wah that's her bad. Her parents ignoring her? That's all in her head! Okay my Claudia-dislike is coming rushing back at an extremely rapid speed.
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Post by booboobrewer on Jan 15, 2008 22:24:50 GMT -5
haha i was just thinking, that's harsh I don't see Mimi dying as any less painful/less of a problem because she was old...
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Post by greer on Jan 15, 2008 22:55:22 GMT -5
i agree with sotypical on the mimi issue. mimi was old and sick and had a long life. it's not abby's dad or mary anne's mom, who obviously still had so much more left to experience in their lives.
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Post by booboobrewer on Jan 16, 2008 1:05:18 GMT -5
While true, I still don't think that made it easier for Claudia than it did for Abby. Claudia was just as close to her grandmother as Abby was to her father. But I am of the opinion that Abby's situation seems worse since she lost her father when she was still a young child. It's just difficult to think of who had it "worst," I think.
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