Your Story: Tammy and Isabelle Hargett
My name is Tammy; I am the mother of a type 1 diabetic. My daughter is Isabelle and was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 8 years old; she is now 14. I am a single mom caring for my daughter almost alone for the past ten years, six of which she had diabetes. It is stressful, worrisome, heart-warming at times, and it is the card we have been dealt. After returning to school as an adult, I still cannot secure decent employment. A wise, self-made man told me “if you can’t find a job, you need to create one for yourself, but be passionate about it.” The next day LIVEabetes Child Care was born; a mother/daughter diabetes care team that can be trusted to care for diabetic children so parents can by worry free when they cannot be home. In theory, I believe in our service. In reality, it is difficult to market to such a specific group of people. We are active in the diabetes community (just did the JDRF walk in Tempe) and I am planning to become a mentor through the ADA to help newly-diagnosed families adjust. My heart and soul is in this. I am hoping to find a connection to those who would benefit from our care.