I’m a single mom, with a young child. About 5 years ago we fell on hard times. I had recently found out why my child’s father abandoned us. He in the throes of addiction. I was naive and didn’t know. Beat myself up about it constantly. I felt I should have seen it, so I could stopped it somehow. I didn’t know how to deal with what was completely devastating news, I had no idea.
I wasn’t working, the stay at home mom of a toddler. I’ve been a type 1 diabetic since I was 4. Bc of the recent upheaval, in the span of a few months, we lost our insurance as well. I paid for meds and both our doctor visits out of pocket. The stress was making it hard to manage diabetes for the first time in my life, which in turn made it hard for me to find work. Any energy I had, I put into my toddler. Funds quickly were dwindling bc I could even figure out how to get help.
I never imagined our life would end up where it had. I felt like failure. Completely terrified and rethinking my whole life. To me at that time, I was in a hole we’d never get out of.
One day, I was food shopping. Trying to count every last penny, use coupons and figure out the sales. All while feeling overwhelmed and down on myself. In the midst of the stress, I didn’t even notice my blood sugar levels dropping. I go to pay as I’m feeling dizzy, slurring my speech, and feeling shaky. I must have appeared drunk to the cashier. I was already having a hard time figuring out how to stretch my money and this made it even harder for me. I was getting up there thinking I had perfectly grabbed twenty bucks worth of things. Except in my haze, I didn’t realize it was a ten.
I’m shoving glucose tabs in my mouth trying to focus on the total as she’s ringing it up. Drop my purse and things go all over the place. Pick it up in a rush. As a line of frustrated people roll their eyes at me. I can hear people literally huffing and tapping feet. The whole 9.
Go to pay and see that 20, was a 10.
I lost it and just started sobbing. Mumbling about how I’m so sorry, can I just recount super quick? Everyone is visibly very annoyed with me by now. I live in NJ, not known as the most patient of people. That’s when an elderly couple come from the back of the line and pay for it all. Then shove a $50 in the bag of groceries. I asked them to please take the money back. They wouldn’t take no for an answer.
The woman said “I see you’re a diabetic. I noticed some of your supplies fall out of your purse. Our son is too. I know how hard a simple problem can spiral out of control. I also see you have diapers. Help your little one. One day, help another person having a bad day.”
Looking back, I think she saw the urgency and desperation added to the low blood sugar. I was frantic, in a way that makes it obvious to someone paying attention, I was worried about how I could pay. They sat with me until I felt better, then hugged me goodbye.
5 years later, we’re in an amazing place. I’m healthy, no more struggling. My child’s father has been sober for a few years. (Not with him but we remain friends) I have a happy child, that I am capable of caring for.
I never forgot how that couple were like a ray of light in the darkest time in my life. I wish I could tell them how they inspired confidence in me. Gave me hope that I might be alright. Because there are good people in the world. It made me to strive to do those very things. To take care of the little one and help others.
It’s how I survived and it’s a way I’ve molded how I live my life. It’s how I try to parent.
Thank you OP and wife, for surely changing someone’s outlook on life as well. You might very well have caused a ripple affect with endless, amazing results. ❤️