Everyone wants a long life, but few work toward a truly meaningful one.
We laid to rest my step-mother in June. Her life was the epitome of meaning.
Nancy E. Fay NP was diagnosed with Type I diabetes back in the 1950’s. We know now that the life expectancy for someone diagnosed in the 50’s with Type 1 was about 55 years old. She died at 77.
Nancy not only beat the odds, but went on to live an extraordinary life.
Nancy was a Registered Nurse, a Nurse Practitioner, and a Physician Assistant. She was also a certified Diabetes Educator. She paved new roads for the benefit of people with diabetes locally and state wide. She established the first diabetes educational programs in the Mohawk Valley and she was the first to receive medical coverage for such in the U.S. Nancy was the first female non physician to become president of the NYS Diabetes Association.
Nancy was a trail blazer. Her whole professional life was full of meaning, and much of her meaning came from her illness – diabetes. She was a living testament to all those with diabetes on how one can live an extraordinary life with the condition IF it is well managed.
In her pursuit to help with diabetes management, she was a guinea pig for the local use of the insulin pump, which is widely used today.
The memorial in her honor was indeed a celebration. She beat the odds and lived a life of true meaning. A life to be proud of.
A much different “celebration of life” was saying goodbye to my friend Kate this past summer. She was 39 years old.
