Since 2007 Melissa Green, from the technical area of MAPFRE INSURANCE, has been devoting her free time to helping the American Diabetes Association. In this way she does her bit to help combat this disease which took the life of the father of her child at the early age of 31. Her concern for the health of her child and the support she received made her want to offer the same help, in turn, to other people. The motivation behind her struggle is to find a cure for this disease.
TEXT AND PHOTOS: MELISSA GREEN MAPFRE INSURANCE. UNITED STATES
Diabetes is one of those diseases that you hear about often, but might not really know much about. That was me until it came into my life. Diabetes has not physically affected me but it has permanently altered my life in so many ways. I never knew how serious Diabetes was until the father of my son suffered from it and ultimately lost his life to it.
For many years I was a part of someone’s life with Diabetes. The complications that came about as a result of his disease included Glaucoma, Neuropathy (nerve damage), Gastro paresis, heart issues and seizures all in addition to the Diabetes itself. I watched his quality of life decrease more and more over the years. After undergoing multiple surgeries including a pancreas transplant, and years of fighting this disease, the Gastro Paresis is what eventually took his life at the young age of 31, leaving our son without a father at six years old. Diabetes runs in my son’s family, and this is what I have thought about day in and day out, since my son was just an infant. This is why I am committed to helping the American Diabetes Association find a cure for this lifealtering disease.
“I do volunteering work and participate in as many events as I can to raise funds to finance the research needed to find a cure for diabetes”
In 2007, I reached out to the American Diabetes Association. I knew that I wanted to be a part of finding a cure. I didn’t want my son to ever worry about his health or his every day activities. Since then, I have volunteered countless hours for the American Diabetes Association including the Step Out and Walk to Stop Diabetes event. I’ve put together several events myself to support Diabetes and taken part in a number of activities that raise money for this cause. When my son’s father passed away, I was truly touched by the outpouring of love from family and friends. I appreciated this support so much that I fell in love with the feeling of helping others because I know how amazing it was when others helped me in my time of need. .So I volunteer and I take part in as many events as I can that raise funds to support the research needed to find a cure for Diabetes.
While Diabetes is near and dear to my heart, I believe that volunteering and making a difference in someone else’s life, just like others have made a difference in mine is worth all the time in the world.
