Story shared at a recent JDRF fund raiser event…

THE BARB’S STORY

Two retired Grandmother’s showed up to play tennis, one fine morning in a south Florida community. They both chuckled when they made their introductions to find out that they were both ‘Barbs’ and also shared the same initials, B.D.

Soon they both discovered their birthdays were in the same month, just one day apart, their daughters also shared the same name, Amy, and the girl’s birthdays were in the same month and in the same week!

Their friendship has even been able to be shared year-round since they were both from the same metro area, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Fun times continued to knit their friendship in so many ways. Then, just over three years ago, Barbara, from Hudson, called Barb, in Lakeville, with the jaw dropping news that her 7-year-old grandson, Soren, had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and was in the hospital for treatment. Barb Doherty shared her deep concern and sadness for Barbara’s young grandson and his family now trying to adjust to this life changing diagnosis. At this point, the Barbs’ had one chapter of their story that was not ‘the same’.

Not ever, in their wildest dreams, did they ever believe that Barb Doherty would be making a return call to Barbara three months later with the unbelievable news that their 14-year-old granddaughter, Ella, had also been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes!

The Barbs’ agree that now their friendship of coincidences has knit their hearts together in a bond of commitment to support these outstanding grandchildren.

They both continue to be amazed as they have watched the success that these two young people have continued their high level of involvement in the sports they both love and participate in all year. Ella, who plays for a M-1’s Club Team, never gives in as she ‘digs’ for the tough volley ball shots. Soren is as fast as a ‘waster bug’ on the ice helping his hockey team win the State Hockey Tournament in their age division last year.

The Grandmothers greet every new hurdle their grandchild encounter with a ‘you can do it!’ attitude. They are cheerleaders for their grandchildren and now also for ‘JDRF’.