You may have heard about the exhibit that was held at the New York Historical Society based on the book Breakthrough: Elizabeth Hughes, the Discovery of Insulin, and the Making of a Medical Miracle.
My friend Kay, who I met on Twitter, mentioned that she was taking a trip to New York and I told her about it. I was disappointed that she and her mom would only be in town during the week because we wouldn’t be able to make the trip to meet them since the kids would be in school.
Then I thought, Why can’t we make the trip? I’ve been to almost all my kids’ school field trips and if there’s a field trip worthy of taking for my family, this one – one that teaches about the discovery of insulin while also meeting a model adult who has grown up with diabetes with her equally impressive mom – is it.
So that’s what we did. We pulled the kids out of school early one day for a family field trip.
The exhibit was moving. We saw pictures of children before the discovery – starved just to stay alive in the hope that some kind of cure would come – and after – chubby cheeks and barely recognizable. There was even a letter from one of the boys to Dr. Banting stating with pride, “I’m a fat boy now.”
Elizabeth herself was kept alive with such meager portions during the years between her diagnosis and her first injection of insulin, that she dwindled to a mere forty-five pounds just before turning fifteen years old.
We saw log books listing people diagnosed with diabetes, their diagnosis date, food regime and date of death, which invariably was only a short time after their diagnosis. To see the handwritten notes defining such gloom was poignant.
There was the newspaper article with pictures of Banting and Best and the declaration that a cure had been discovered. I pictured myself today seeing a headline of a true cure for diabetes and thinking that the elation and relief people must have felt back then was equal to or greater than what I imagined feeling.
If you haven’t already read this book, I sincerely recommend it. I knew all the basics of the story. There was no surprise ending. But learning about that time – directly before and after the discovery of insulin – through the eyes of the people who were living with diabetes, caring for those with diabetes and working on the discovery – was something truly profound.
So you know Banting and you know Best, but who is Ritzdorf, you may ask. Well it’s actually two people – Kay and her mom. Jody. We could have made the trip to NYC anytime. Sharing the exhibit with the Ritzdorfs is really what made our trip special.
This was my first IRL meetup with any of my online D friends. I wasn’t sure if meeting someone live started things over fresh, or you picked up where you left off online. It was the latter. I was in the hall reading one of the items on the wall, and I recognized Kay as she walked by. I turned and just said, “Hey!”
We made full introductions and continued enjoying the exhibit together. Afterwards we made our way to the gift shop. All the while Kay and Jody chatted it up with my kids. They were genuinely interested in each of them. It was like they were family. If you ever want to win someone over, talk to their kids earnestly. It warmed my heart and made me smile. I knew Kay and her mom were good people and weren’t just being polite when they asked to meet up.
Caleb was matter of fact about it all, but underneath I know he was very excited to be in Kay and Jody’s company – people who really understood what living with diabetes is. Colin and Kay talked about the book. Colin is the reason we purchased it, he was so interested in reading the full story. Lila almost exploded with glee when she caught a glimpse of Kay’s pump – running over to me in her five-year old discrete way of whispering not so quietly in my ear, “she has an insulin pump and it’s PINK!”
We were able to convince them to have dinner with us. It was so enjoyable to get to know them better and hear about their trip to New York. It was Kay’s first time to the Big Apple. We talked about diabetes and about things not diabetes. If not for the need to get the kids home to bed on a school night, I’m sure we could have spent hours and hours talking.
In fact, I’m hoping on their next trip to NYC we’ll be able to meet up again – if they’re willing to put up with us, that is!
Hands down, this was the best field trip ever!
Shortly after our meeting, a special package came in the mail. Caleb’s new Huskers hat displaced even his NYY one for more than a week straight.
Thank you, Kay and Jody, for making the time in your brief trip to New York to meet with us. We are so happy to know you and call you friends.
This is Caleb... 
Oh it sounds simply wonderful! D meet-ups among online friends are the best. I am so happy that you got to see the exhibit. It sounds profound in so many ways. Thanks for sharing Lorraine!
Thanks for reading Penny!
This is just so cute! My head nearly exploded. It makes me so happy when our larger DOC family comes together in real life.
By golly Karen, we have to have a metro meet-up one of these days!
what a treat to get to meet such wonderful people AND learn about insulin in a more personal way. I don’t know if I could handle the exhibit as just reading about it brings me to tears, the personal stories are so tragic and heroic depending upon that little shot of insulin. I am so thankful for that liquid gold in my guys lives. Thanks for sharing your fun trip, with us, too…your family is adorable!
Thank you Sarah.
Definitely better than a regular field trip! And totally worth missing a day of school.
Loved Caleb’s paper!
They only missed a couple of hours so no nasty notes from school. 🙂
BEST FIELD TRIP EVER!!!!! No doubt about it! How FUN!!!
I want to go and see that exhibit SO badly. NY is a LONG way away from AZ, though… so I dont know if it will happen. I do think I will go and order that book right now, however. ;o)
Thank you so much for sharing your field trip with us!
Oh Donna, if you get the book, please report back what you think.
Great post and it sounds like an awesome time was had by all!
D Meetups are AMAZING.
P.S. I also went to the exhibit & Kerri took a very similar picture of me & the 360 bottles of insulin!!
It’s such a fun picture to take. I think I remember seeing one of Manny behind the vials too!
Well DAMN! I wanted to be the first! LOL. It looks like you guys had a terrific time and what a worthwhile trip for all of you.
OMG SO COOL!! Yes. I am bit jealous that two of my favs met up and I wasnt there, but freakin awesome! 😉
Great pics Lo!!
Sounds amazing! Thanks for the book recommendation…I have been wanting to read a D related book and I will check it out…Your family is darling!
Great post! I LOVE IRL hook-ups!
The exhibit looks amazing – I probably would have cried all of the way through it. Any chance you guys want to take a field trip to Texas?? 🙂
I’m buying the book tomorrow. I’ll turn in my book report as soon as I’m done!
I am just finishing up the book (it’s due back on Friday at my public library – that actually has great selection of English books – which totally amazes me at times) – it’s Elizabeth’s description of the colour of the insulin (a murky brown) that she injects into her leg. Ahh the things we old timer diabetics have done to help make diabetes a better place for the future generations 🙂
I’d love to make it to NYC to see the exhibition – but alas – long drive. Though there is an exhibition being held at the Boston Museum of Science called “Diabetes: A Deeper Look” until April 3rd. You can take a gander at it at the link if you’re closer to Boston then NYC – http://www.mos.org/exhibits_shows/current_exhibits&d=4805 (maybe I’ll see a few of you there !).
What I wouldn’t give to take that fieldtrip to NY! What an amazing exhibit!! I’m so glad you were able to meet up with a good friend, and have a wonderful time! It is refreshing to spend time with others that get it! ESPECIALLY in real life!
Totally worth missing a day of school!
Do you happen to know if the exhibit is going to travel?
I don’t know for sure, but it doesn’t seem like it.
I love your philosophy that this field trip was too worth while for your family to miss!! I agree and I’m glad you all had such a wonderful time. 🙂 I’m always so nervous meeting a D-OC pal for the first time, and afterward I always wonder what I was so nervous about. The instant connection is always right there and always so magical!
Caleb’s stream of explanation points made me giggle! So glad you all had a great time. The exhibit made me VERY thankful to have the medicines and technology we have now!
There are so many NYC DOC-ers….hope that the next time you make a BIg Apple excursion, we all can meet up! 🙂
I’m gonna cry! He has grown so much!