When Emily was diagnosed with diabetes in 1998 we became joined at the hips. This is not fun for any parent and child and Emily and I were no exceptions. She was in 7th grade when she was diagnosed and for the next 3 years whatever Em did I did it with her. She was on swim team, so I went to her practices and of course the meets. She was on the tennis team in high school. I went to the practices and all but one of the meets when she begged me not to come. It was hard on us but it was the only way she felt safe, and she hated that. During that time she was hospitalized a great deal. It seemed like every 6 weeks she went into ketoacidosis and needed help getting back on track. The pump helped but had problems of its own. In all events, Em and I were close, a little too close for a teenage girl. When she was in high school, especially by the end of her sophomore year she was REALLY sick of me. It was about this time that she and Colleen started to become good friends. They were like peas in a pod. I have never seen girls laugh so much and be so silly. They were kindred spirits and I was so happy for Em. What made it all the more special for me was Jill, Colleen’s mom, and the Casey family. Emily had a second family and it felt like home when she was with them. I felt so comfortable with them and I trusted Jill because of all the things that Em told me about her and the family. Jill makes a mean pancake and anyone who knew Em knew how much she LOVED breakfast and pancakes!! Emily told me that I should take lessons for Jill and that she would ask Jill for the recipe!! The Casey’s became a home away from home and a safe place. She loved John and used to tell me all sorts of stories about him and Patty. I felt so lucky to have Emily have such a good friend and a good family to rely on. Often there were times when I was certain that Emily preferred the Casey’s home over mine and that was difficult for me but I knew that she was with good people. By being able to develop more normally, away from me and the costant reminder of her disease, the Caseys’ gave Emily a richer life. Colleen and Emily had some difficult times before her death and I am not sure if they were ever totally resolved, but I can say this with my heart, Emily loved Colleen and all the Casey’s. They were family to her and are still considered that to me.