A Silent Battle
Monday, December 3, 2007
By: Lloyd Carrera

My deaf wife of 25 years, fights in silence for her life even now as I write this tribute to her.

In 1993 my wife, LeeAnn, was diagnosed as having type 1 insulin dependent diabetes. American Sign Language (ASL) was used to communicate to her that the rest of her life from that day forward, would never be the same again. Since then, I have watched her fight for her life each and every day. I have sat beside her in many doctor's offices and in many hospital ICU wards as signs were being used to share difficult news to her. Diabetes has not only affected and robbed every aspect of her life, but it has impacted and devastated us as an entire family.

I admire your courage, honey. You've taught me what life is all about.
It's about hangin' on when your heart has had enough;
It's about givin' more when you feel like givin' up.

Thanks for being so strong and for fighting even when you don't feel like it sometimes. So many love and cherish you...me, Lianna, Luisanna, Robin, Sharon, Fady, Chelsea & Chloe, Mom & Dad Gallagher, Grandma Brown, all your students in the Gallaudet University BSU organization and all your brothers and sisters at the First Baptist Church of Rockville, Md. and the SBCD.

Thanks for 25 years of marriage and for our beautiful children.

I will be cycling 100 miles in your honor, in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure fund-raising event, June 8th, 2008 (June 4th will be our 25th year wedding Anniversary). I am asking everyone who reads this to give $25.00 (one dollar for each year of our marriage) and consider this a personal gift to us. If 100 people give $25 each, we would make our goal of $2,500.

This year I am also forming a team called “Team LeeAnn”. Between you and me, our team members and thousands of Tour de Cure riders we will fight this disease together!

I love you!

Your husband,

Lloyd