For Father's Day 2021, we're highlighting stories of Fathers with Diabetes who also have children with Diabetes, and how they navigate a complex life of managing their own Diabetes, managing their children's Diabetes as well as just being a family.
Dr. Jerry Brzozowski was Diagnosed with Diabetes at Age 18, but it wasn't until his daughters Vivian and Evelyn were diagnosed with T1D that he became more outspoken about his Diabetes. He and his wife Sam and the rest of the Brzozowski family live near Houston Texas, but you're very likely to find them all throughout the United States as Jerry is a big part of the Diabetes pilot community! You can follow their family on Instagram at @TypeWildTogether
Q: Diabetes diagnoses are always difficult. What do you remember about the day Vivian was diagnosed?
Whew...the flood of emotions still get to me today! I remember thinking that the glucometer had to be wrong, though I had a gut feeling that we were right.
Q: How did that change your relationship to your own Diabetes?
I had to step up my game for sure! I had worn a CGM off and on, but now I had to be the example to be followed. Although my A1C wasn't too bad since I was keeping T1D tightly controlled to maintain my FAA medical to fly, but I dialed it in keeping in mind we have to #livebeyond.
Q: Thinking like a pancreas for yourself is difficult enough, but how challenging is it to balance your own Diabetes as well as working with Sam to manage Vivian and Evelyn’s T1D?
Sam will be the first to tell you I tried to manage her as I managed myself, but that did not work as her little body responded quicker to insulin and even today, you can tell when Daddy is on duty as it looks like a fighter jet doing loop de loops while mom has a pretty stable line. Luckily Loop has saved both of us some frustration and allowed all of us to sleep better as we know rest is sooooo important.
Q: In what ways did you find knowing about Diabetes management for yourself help you and your family with treatment for Vivian and Evelyn?
We had a jump start on the knowledge curve to a certain degree, that I wish I could upload into all parents with T1D kiddos as well as other T1Ds. My mantra of "knowledge is power" allowed us to get her on a CGM and pump without hesitation, but the reservation and trepidation came with how diet would affect her and overcoming fear of insulin and hypoglycemic events. Although we have overcome these fears, we are always prepared wherever we go!
Q: How did you and Sam make the decision to test the rest of the family for antibodies?
Working in the medical field and understanding the pathophysiology of how we come to be T1D, we researched a ton of information and although hindsight may be 20/20, ended up wanting to be better prepared. The hindsight is in reference to the constant worry factor from the time of results to time of diagnosis...which was pretty spot on for Evelyn. We couldn't test her until a year of age and holding her down just brought flashbacks of Vivian's hospital stay with the blood draw. She tested positive for 3 of the 4 antibodies and with these results, it was estimated that she would develop T1D by the time she was 5 years. All the worrying and hyperawareness allowed us to catch her T1D before ending up in DKA or a hospital stay working with our awesome Pediatric Endocrinology team led by Dr. Stephen Ponder. She was initially on a CGM with MDI during her honeymoon phase and transitioned to the same system Big Sister was on and haven't looked back!
Q: How has being a Diabetes Dad changed the way you manage your own Diabetes?
I try my best to lead by example in eating as healthily as I can, seeing my doctors regularly, being compliant with testing and therapies, and living life to it's fullest!
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to Dads who are caregivers to a person with Diabetes?
My best advice would be to have sympathy without enabling...being firm, but kind. T1Ds go thru ALOT of s#!^ that is lifelong and can be draining, but persevering thru the s#!^ with confidence (firm without enabling) with open ears and arms when necessary (kindness and sympathy) knowing it’s going to be okay
Q: If you could go back in time to 18 year old Jerry, what would you tell him about the road (or sky) ahead?
I think everyone that is as Type A as I am would tell themselves to not sweat the small stuff and as Dr. Ponder’s analogy of this is a marathon, not a sprint. I would also tell myself that if it wasn’t for the path that would be taken, I would not have found my beautiful wife, Samantha, or be where I am today with a possible flying career on the horizon. Let the river of life be my guide & don’t try to swim or paddle upstream…everything happens for a reason.
Q: In one sentence, describe how silly Rob looks getting into the back of a small airplane 😂
Air Rob! Fly on until next time! (The planes I fly now all have AC & command doors or air stairs, sorry!)
Happy Father's Day to all the Dads with Diabetes, Dads of someone with Diabetes, and Moms who play the Dad role for someone with Diabetes.