CHAPTER 4
(For those who understand type 1 diabetes, you’ll know how dangerous and fatal this part of my story is.
For those who don’t, ask my wife. 🤯)
One evening while working second shift at Lord Corporation, my blood sugar had been running low. Being moved from first to second shift was a complete shock to my system; I did the best I could to control my diet. Unfortunately, my blood sugar would drop quickly around 11-11:30pm each night – just about the time I was heading home.
One evening after a hard day at work, I made it to my vehicle and started the 25 minutes drive home. I could tell my blood sugar was dropping fast. As I was driving, I looked for my back-up food: snacks or glucose tablets that I faithfully kept in the armrest or glove box. Shockingly, nothing was there.
I had just turned on to the interstate and was in for a 20-mile drive home. My blood sugar was getting lower and lower by the moment; there wasn’t much time before I would black out. I was coming up to the exit just before the one that would take me home. I could get off, but there are no convenience stores or gas stations within 5 miles.
Crisis mode enabled.
If I took the exit, I knew it would be at least 5 minutes to the Country Fair gas station and I didn’t have that much life left in me, I wouldn’t make it. So, I began to accelerate past the Fairview exit hoping that I would make it home quicker than gambling on looking for a food joint off of the Fairview exit.
Making this split decision I realized that if I get in an accident – and it would happen because my vision was fading in and out – my speeding would cause greater bodily harm and create a lesser chance of living due to an accident… not to mention causing harm or loss of life to another driver.
Instead I slowed down; pulled off to the side of the road and put on my 4-ways.
At this point my eyesight was fading; everything was dimmed to almost nothing. I was going blind. With no human being around to help, and my own body failing, my soul took over and I prayed to the Blessed Mother, Mary. Losing mental capacity, I made up my own version of the Rosary; pleading for help.
Immediately to the northwest a star shone extremely bright; it came quickly toward me. It was moving so fast and seem to grow larger and larger, the glow became brighter and brighter. Suddenly I was flooded with hope and knew I could make it home. I could feel a presence come over me. My site returned! I was given the understanding that I could push a little further and make it home.
After 4 or 5 minutes I made it to the driveway, stumbled into the kitchen and ate everything in sight.
During these times (low blood sugar) my cognitive functions are pretty shot, but somehow through the grace of God my mind was coherent enough to make some good choices.
After eating for 30 minutes, I decided to check my blood sugar,… it was 11. ELEVEN! To give you a baseline understanding, ‘normal’ is 90 to 120.
I should have been out cold, deep in an insulin coma… or dead. Instead I was awake and alive!
I owe this thanks to the intercession of Mary and for the grace of God to spare me this particular night. What a blessing!
God truly had more work for me to do.
Until the next chapter…
Your brother in Christ,
â—€ CH 3 | CH 5 â–¶