Usher, a music celebrity and judge on The Voice, revealed yesterday that one of his sons had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in the last year. The Diabetes Online Community was all a-twitter at the news and my news feeds on FB were clogged with “Hey, look at this interview!”
Dear Usher,
Diabetes sucks.
Everyone thinks they know what it’s all about, but unless you’re part of a family impacted by this disease, it’s a soundbite and an “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that,” before moving on to the next news story. Thank you for sharing an intimate part of your life with the general public and talking about making sure your child eats healthy meals.
You will, I have absolutely no doubt, be contacted by more than one diabetes organization asking to be a spokesperson for the cause. A famous person is always good for a wave and a smile on the stage, and a famous person with a connection to diabetes? Booya. They will want to you rally around diabetes research and a cure and raising diabetes awareness.
How about you focus on raising your children instead?
There will be plenty of time to advocate (if you want) in the future, but you’re still in that “What the hell happened?” phase of the disease. In addition, you’re also dealing with a family that does not live together, so factor in an ex-wife who I’m sure is just as worried about her children as you are, and there will be arguments over his care. Teach your child with diabetes to be strong and self-sufficient and your child without diabetes to be understanding and compassionate. (By the way, if you don’t think his brother isn’t impacted by this, think again.)
Diabetes isn’t going anywhere. It will still be here if you want to talk about it. Look, other famous people have taken different routes in advocating: Brett Michaels and Mary Tyler Moore are solid advocates (and even Robin Thicke has gotten into diabetes fundraising – his brother is T1). Paula Deen admitted she was Type 2 when she could make money off of it. Tom Hanks mentioned it once on late night television that he has Type 2, but hasn’t said a thing since. Hell, Halle Berry won’t even admit she has diabetes anymore.
So, for now, learn all you can about this disease. Send your ex-wife and kids to Friends for Life this summer. Do what you can to keep him safe and feeling loved and supported. Make sure he knows that he did nothing to get this disease. I’m sure that you’re already doing all of this, but make sure that you are supported, too. Parenting is hard enough, but parenting a child with diabetes is going to be a whole new ball of wax.
If you need the Diabetes Community, online or in person, we’re here. There are a lot of great people who would be willing to help, famous person or not. You’re a parent of a child with diabetes. You’re part of that club that no one wants to be in.
I wish you the best. You’ll need it.
Sincerely,
Christel
And for the rest of us…
Dear Diabetes Community,
Remember The Diagnosis? Those days and months following the game changer of your life? It was a rough and heady time, with so much to learn and understand. After 31 years, I’m still learning new things about this disease.
So, please… back off on Usher and a crusade to have him become the beacon of advocacy for diabetes. He was brave to mention it openly. Don’t expect him to rally the troops and become a mouthpiece for organizations. Let him decide for himself, on his own terms, if he wants to be a part of our community at all. (We can be a little pushy at times…)
Nothing has changed since yesterday, except eighty people got The Diagnosis. Today, eighty people will get it. Tomorrow and the day after… He, despite being a celebrity, is no different. He is a parent of a child with diabetes.
While you think he may be able to reach so many people to raise awareness and money for diabetes, it should be his decision… and his family’s decision to become the poster family and the center of attention. There are other famous families who are already doing a spectacular job of that. And there are also families who are not quite so famous who are already doing a spectacular job, too.
Diabetes isn’t going anywhere. Neither is the Diabetes Community. We’ll be here if and when he wants to join us.
Sincerely,
Christel
Well said!!!! (And I’m still learning after almost 22 years, too.)
Agreed well said. We are 4 years into this type 1 diabetes dx. She was dx at age 3 and I am still learning new things every day. My biggest struggle was learning I can not control this. I have to help guide and support her through this journey in life.
Nice message. Well said.
Wonderful post. I think it took me 2+ years to come out of the “what the hell happened?” phase – and honestly, I delve back into that on occasion. Absolutely agree, raise your kids, learn everything you can, be involved – but focus on the family and let advocacy wait until you are truly ready.
If he wants to learn, and make friends in the D community for his son and family- he should come to children with diabetes FFL 2014 ! A great experience for all in the D community….
AMEN!!!
Well said as always. I hope he’s listening……..
WELL SAID!!!
There is plenty of time for the rest! We are 6 yrs into diagnosis with our 7 yr old and still get curve balls thrown at us more than I’d like to admit!
AMEN!!! Let them wrap their head around it all. He said this has been a rough year… Leave him alone.
[…] hospital and some quick diabetes education, I was off to handle this chronic condition on my own. This recent post made me think about that diagnosis, and mostly, about my first few years living with Type […]
Thank you, Christel.
Love, Love, LOVE this post!!!!
My son was diagnosed with T1 and year and a half ago and goes to school with Usher’s sons. My son is therefore aware of it and told me about it the other day. I searched the Internet to see if it is true(which led me to this site), and it broke my heart when I was able to confirm what my young son had said. I know what he is going through(except for being a celebrity in addition to it all), and I have thought about telling him to let me know if he has any questions or needs any advice the next time I see him in the hallway. There is so much I could tell him, and I am thinking because of his celebrity status it may be very tough for him to reach out to people in similar situations. But I have decided not to talk to him much for the same reasons mentioned in this posting. Your message is right on! He seems like a great person and a great father, so I’m sure he will eventually get involved with advocacy when the time is right. But he needs to focus on his family right now, and people need to leave him alone.
[…] Raymond from The Voice is now a D-Dad, with his son being diagnosed with type 1 this past year? Christel Aprigliano at The Perfect D and Bennet Dunlap at YDMV have some great advice for […]
[…] Dear Usher and the Diabetes Community – Christel at The Perfect D […]
[…] Dear Usher and the Diabetes Community – Christel at The Perfect D […]