American Diabetes Association: In Reply to "Ryan"

In Reply to "Ryan"
Saturday, June 9, 2007
By: Dawn Jachim

In reply to 'Ryan'

What true friendship is really about!

If you all have read the story titled "Ryan" written by Jennifer Stenger, you already have a general idea of the true meaning of friendship. In 2002, I never knew that my world would turn upside down and back around again. I wouldn't know the better side of all of that until the year 2003.

This all started with a 5 minute walk to the bus stop every school morning and afternoon. After many days and numerous conversations, our friendship grew to beyond sisterhood! Jen has helped me through some of the toughest struggles of my life and my son's. If it weren't for her listening to me cry about how helpless I feel with my son's diabetes and everything else that life has thrown at me, I wouldn't know where to turn.

I knew how important our friendship was to her when she purchased the most precious gift for me for my birthday. She purchased the I Decide charm / keyring for me and had it engraved 'For my son, Ryan'. She knew how important it was to me and that I couldn't afford to get it myself. A gift like that only comes from a 'true friend'!

Thank you Jen for being my best friend, my sister, my shoulder, my son's 2nd mother, and most of all, my ROCK!