Partner Perspectives: An Introduction

It is my pleasure to introduce to the blogosphere, my number one guy, my favourite fella, my tireless cheerleader (without the mini-skirt), my husband…Mr. Daniel Brandes.  Oh, you’ve seen him before. Like on our wedding anniversary. And on Halloween.  But, as of today, Daniel is officially raising his voice through a new monthly column at My Favourite Number: Partner Perspectives.  While I may be the one in the family with all the chronic illness (geez Laura, didn’t anyone ever teach you how to share?), as my husband, partner and best friend, Daniel is extremely well acquainted with my diabetes life and my gluten-free ways.  And this provides Daniel with an interesting perspective. A partner perspective.

The inspiration for this new column comes from the simple fact that, while Daniel may not know what having chronic illness is like, I do not know what living beside chronic illness is like.

So, without further ado, please give it up for my part-time caregiver and full-time friend, Daniel!

Laura and I have been “running around together” (as my grandfather would say) for more than ten years. Ten years. I am 24 years old. So ten is like, you know, pretty much, forever.  Laura was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes five years before we met.  She was the first person I had ever met who had diabetes; she was the first person I had ever met who had a chronic illness of any kind.  Over the past ten years, our relationship has grown and strengthened.  Our roots run deep. And, over the last ten years, my knowledge and experience of living with diabetes have also grown and are growing still.

And yet. I do not know what having chronic illness is like.  I have, however, gathered a certain amount of insight on the day-to-day, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute, nitty gritty of living with both type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.  I know the next day exhaustion that comes with a 3 am low. I know the anxiety that comes with eating in a new environment that may or may not be covered in a microscopic film of gluten.  And I know what a vital role I play – as the partner, the wing man, the other half – in the day-to-day, hour-to-hour, minute-to-minute variety show that is Laura’s diabetes/celiac life.

Laura and I often talk about what an important resource the online community of patient health bloggers is and how it has helped Laura — and, no doubt, so many others — to feel so much less alone. During one of these conversations Laura asked if I would lend my voice and share my “partner perspectives” at My Favourite Number.  After some thought, nagging and coercion, I agreed.

So, once a month I will discuss the role that I play as Laura’s partner, best friend, teammate and sometimes-caregiver.  I will explore how living with diabetes and celiac disease has affected my life and shaped and strengthened our relationship. I will share my perspectives — from the serious to the silly — on being her partner, her wing man, her other half.