Today I attended the Closing Day of the Auburn International Film Festival.
Auburn is a bit of a hike for me, so not exactly my local cinema - but the trip was well worth it.
You see, Premiering today at the Auburn International Film Festival was "the first narrative film ever made about Type 1 Diabetes."
As a parent of two kids with T1D this film was ALWAYS going to be a tear-jerker for me.
I was at the AIFF with a fellow T1D Mum and a new friend I met through the iBGStar trial. We sat through the first five short films, which were all wonderful in their own way (especially "Ezzy & Cleveland"), waiting patiently for "our" film to start.
As soon as I saw the name of the Director (Dan Masucci) come on the screen I knew we were up, so I handed a tissue to my fellow T1D Mum sitting on my right.
The opening scene had me going, of course. The sound of an alarm clock, blurred at first and then coming sharply into focus: 3:00am.
Masucci's film gave an incredibly accurate and poignant insight into what has become routine for me and so many other T1D families, the 3am BGL check. Not just a "let's check the numbers" thing - so much more for parents, who hold their breath while the meter does its job; wondering whether they have to wake their sleeping child to feed them against their will, or give them more insulin to bring down a blood glucose reading that is already doing damage to their young body.
A BGL, to a parent of a child with T1D, is so much more than just a number.
Not only does this film share the feelings of a parent of a child with T1D, it also give us a glimpse of what our kids are feeling, the frustration with having to be so careful, always having to do the right thing, knowing what to do but also knowing that no matter how well you manage things it's not always going to turn out right.
I hope that this film will be distributed to schools world-wide. It may just help in the never-ending battle to educate people about what our kids go through every single day, and why we, as parents, worry so much.
Thank you Dan Masucci, your film was outstanding.
Below is the official full length trailer for DxONE.
I told the kids at the start of the week that this week would be a bit manic and I have to say that that was a bit of an understatement!
After getting one child up at 5:30am so that I could get him to school on time to get the bus to his regional athletics carnival it was then Uni on Monday - and handing in the 2nd of 2 assignments due within a week of each other (and now to get started on the next 2).
Tuesday was another early start - getting the other child up at 5:30am for the same reason - another regional athletics carnival (thankfully next year they'll both be in high school so will attend these things on the same day!) then a meeting about JDRF's 2012 Kids In The House event in the city.
Wednesday was work.
Thursday doing my bit at JDRF headquarters in Sydney, getting on the phone with my 2012 Kids In The House ChairMum hat on. No point heading home from there on Thursday evening because I then had to head to Doltone House in Pyrmont for the iBGStar Launch!
It was a lovely night and I finally met in person so many people I have been in contact with either online or via the phone over the last 18 months. I was also very lucky to meet some amazing people I have heard about but never been in contact with, including Dr Gary Deed, Team Type 1 Cyclist Justin Morris, and Director of "Type 1 Diabetes Network" - Susan Greenbank.
Although I didn't get to meet Chef, Michael Moore - I just wanted to say to you Michael - the food was fabulous and I loved hearing your perspective of live with diabetes. I had a quick look at Michael's new recipe book "Blood Sugar" and you can be sure that this will find it's way to my bookshelf in the very near future - as soon as I pay off the enormous parking fine I (and I suspect many others) found on my car after the event!
You may remember that the kids and I were asked to participate in a video news release about the iBGStar - and this video was shown at the launch! How exciting!
So, without further adieu...
Well, on that note I will finish this post!
I also want to say to my lovely fellow multiple T1D Mum, Meri - you and your beautiful family have been in my thoughts and prayers constantly.
