by Kendal Richardson
Over 30 million people in the United States have diabetes, with almost a third of cases going undiagnosed. According to the American Diabetes Association, another 1.5 million people are diagnosed every year. Of these numbers, approximately 1.25 million people have type 1 diabetes. The general population often confuse type 1 and type 2.
I personally heard about diabetes, I knew family and friends with diabetes, however my perception of diabetes was just a “thing” for me. I seen people continue to live, eat, drink and be merry. It wasn’t until 2021 that what I heard, knew and seen became more than a “thing” it became a reality. 2021, in the middle of a pandemic gave me a chance to become more empathic, more conscious, more enlightened about the illness called diabetes.
God allowed me to cross paths with a family with a child challenged with diabetes since the age of 6 (Ronisha Brown and Christian Hintin) to meeting the best DJ in the land, Angela Whitman. Meeting them gave me no choice but to give and ear and lend a hand to understand their trials and tribulations and give a voice for their stories to be heard and told.
At the beginning of the summer 2021, I was on the way to the barbershop, and I had been praying to God about a vision, He gave me called “Feed The Community.” I was seeking Him on the area where He wanted me to serve. I wanted to do a back-to-school backpack giveaway and I already obtained 100 backpacks for the event. As I reached the barbershop, I walked in on a conversation with a woman by the name of Ronisha Brown, owner of Wink and Blink Resale Shop and Founder of Wink and Blink Community Outreach in Dallas, TX, and my barber at the time were discussing do a back-to-school drive for the kids in here area. I said, “wait a minute, repeat that!” and I heard her vision, I “said, lets do it together.”
We exchanged numbers and she told me we can do it at her shop and that her area is in dire need of help. I went over there immediately after I got my haircut and my spirit quickened, and I knew this is where God wanted me to be. From that meeting me and Ronisha formed a bond to help the community. We were about to provide for 200 children on our first back to school drive and we were about to provide through donations from Karen Woodward Banks, DFW Lights other community members but most of the finances came from Ms. Brown and her fiancé Ricky Crosby, out of their own heart and pockets.
During the of preparation for the event, I learned a little bit about their family. One interesting thing is that her son, Christian was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 6 and now is 13 years old. Remember at the beginning when I said I heard, knew, and saw, well this time was different. I saw for myself what he personally must go through to check his sugar levels and take insulin. I have seen how many days from school he misses or must be taken out of school because his sugar level is too high. Talking with his mom about her son, has been heart breaking and as I began asking questions, I could see the tears roll. Here is our conversation.
ME: How has diabetes changed your life?
Ronisha: It was devastation. My son was only 6 years old. It changed the entire dynamics of our family and family structure. It changed the way we had to look at food. The cost of living changed in the household. Not only to see my son a diabetic but to have him diagnosed type 1 for the rest of his life. I was crushed and as a young mother this was my baby and I couldn’t help him, this was out of my hands, and I had to rely on the doctors who have been great since the start of this journey.
ME: What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?
Ronisha: Type 1 prevents the body from producing insulin, which is responsible for regulating blood glucose or blood sugar. Thus, taking insulin for the rest of your life. Having to watch my son take 3 shots twice a day. Type 2 doesn’t respond to insulin well but can be corrected.
As she began to share more that was on her heart, she began to share how it changed the dynamics of their family. She, herself didn’t like needles and had to learn to administer insulin shots to her son. Despite not liking needles she was forced to learn in order to save her son from any diabetic mishaps. They were taught at Children’s Hospital in Dallas through using a teddy bear. His brothers and sister being young didn’t understand the severity of diabetes, like me they didn’t know per say. They didn’t understand until he got older and started having diabetic seizures called DKA. DKA, a serious condition that can lead to a diabetic coma (passing out for long periods of time) or even death.
What broke my heart was not only sharing his story but as she began to explain to see babies born with type 1 diabetes and seeing them must get insulin shots.
Three shots, one in the finger, one in the back and one on the buttocks. Learning about diabetes and the effects on youth did something to me and I must share with others to help save a life, help support the cause and love on another human being. About one month prior to meeting Ronisha and Christian, I met this incredible woman that was hosting and event at a popular restaurant in Arlington, who is the greatest DJ in the land, Angela Whitman. After the show me and a friend were talking with her, and she began sharing with me she was a diabetic. You could feel the passion and conviction from her heart as she expressed what some of the symptoms had been doing to her at that time. She began to share her vision about a 3-day Diabetes Awareness Event being held in August.
ME: What made you not give up but wanted to share your journey with others?
Angela Whitman: First because I belong to God and because I belong to God. God did not tell me I had give up nor did God tell me this was the end of my life. What God told me was to write the vision and make it plain. But for me I just felt like it was my mission, it was my duty to get it done (the vision God gave me) and when God told me to write the vision, I knew I couldn’t fail.
ME: What are you doing in the genre of diabetes awareness?
Angela Whitman: I am a campaigner for The American Diabetes Association. I am the face in the place here in Dallas, Texas.
"Trusting God becomes an issue and trusting people you can trust to tell play a factor in what’s going on."
- Angela Whitman
ME: What made you not give up but wanted to share your journey with others?
Angela Whitman: First because I belong to God and because I belong to God. God did not tell me I had give up nor did God tell me this was the end of my life. What God told me was to write the vision and make it plain. But for me I just felt like it was my mission, it was my duty to get it done (the vision God gave me) and when God told me to write the vision, I knew I couldn’t fail.
ME: What are you doing in the genre of diabetes awareness?
Angela Whitman: I am a campaigner for The American Diabetes Association. I am the face in the place here in Dallas, Texas. I’m excited to go any and everywhere to let people know I’m connected to The American Diabetes Association. When I go out, I just get to be me, to talk about what happened to me in my life. This has made some amazing moments in my life. I have lives on Facebook and people inbox me that I don’t even know, inspired about my strength and lack of shame. I don’t keep it a secret, I’m a diabetic. My doctor told me I must tell everyone I’m diabetic so that they know how to save your life whenever you’re in crisis. I do a lot of major events, mc/host, comedy shows, walks, and parties. I get to talk to a lot of different people from all walks of life and it’s been an amazing and rewarding journey.
ME: How can people help your mission & purpose?
Angela Whitman: I sit and talk to God first, then I write the vision and make it plain. My goal for 2021-2022 is to raise a goal of $20,000 for The American Diabetes Association. This year at my 3-day awareness event which was held in August 27-29, 2021, we were able to raise $3,325 at the very first event I’ve ever done for diabetes.
I have a new website please check me out at info971019.wixsite.com You can also donate via CashApp: $Angie4915 and via Paypal: angela.whitman@icloud.com Please, you can trust me when I say every dollar and I tell you every penny goes to where I tell you it’s going.
ME: Can you leave an encouraging message for the reader?
Angela Whitman: For anybody that picks up this article, that picks up this magazine I want you to know that just because man tells you won’t make it, don’t make it right, don’t make it true. Trust God with everything, not just in one thing but you must trust him with everything. If God can do it for me, He can do it for you.
Kendal Richardson
Voice of The People
email: bornchozen@yahoo.com
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