A modest gathering met at the Stony Ground Primary School on Tuesday, July 10th for an opening ceremony to commence the two-day Nurse Lynette Diabetes Camp.
After Sherri-Ann Roberts welcomed the group, prayer was offered by Rev. L. Errol Brooks. The President of the Anguilla Diabetic Association, Mrs. Dana Ruan, then gave an overview of the name for the camp, paying particular recognition and tribute to the late Nurse Lynnet Rogers, who was the first President of the Association.
Mrs. Ruan refected: “Nurse Lynette’s name has been synonymous with the Anguilla Diabetic Association for over twenty years. She served as president of the Association for twelve years. Her unwavering dedication to lobbying for persons with diabetes will always be remembered. Selflessly, she assisted many people in Anguilla, as well as other islands, who were affected with the condition in her time. Whole-heartedly, she gave of her time, expertise, and finances to the extent that she denied herself on many occasions so that others could be happy and comfortable.”
Permanent Secretary of Health, Mr. Foster Rogers was pleased to share of his sentiments in being so close to Lynette as a cousin, a colleague and a friend: He noted: “ Anyone who knows Lynette knows that she always had an infectious kind of laughter, and a vibrancy for living life. Lynette was a human being who really wanted to live life to its fullest. She would hold her issues with a calm nerve and a steady hand. Nothing really bothered Nurse Lynette.
Lynette was a consummate professional. She was a nurse through and through. She spoke nursing, and she lived nursing. She was indeed a public health professional who had people’s individual health interests at heart. She went beyond the call of duty to be sure her patients had what they needed. She was an extremely progressive person who always looked for ways to help humanity.
“Through all her vibrancy and love for life, however, Nurse Lynette struggled with diabetes for most of her entire life. But she struggled bravely. So, for the 2018 Diabetic Camp, in light of all the fine qualities and characteristics of Nurse Lynette, it is my honor and privilege, today, to officially declare the Nurse Lynette Diabetes Youth Camp officially open.
Finally, a reflection of the camp was given by Ms. Lenecia Fredrick. She recounted her experiences at last year’s camp and was happy to know that she was not alone as a young person with diabetes.
She claimed, “I have been affected with type one diabetes for seven years. This camp will make you feel like you are not alone with your diabetes. Last year, when I came to the camp, I walked with my friend. She had diabetes in her family, but she did not know whether or not she was a diabetic. She told me she would come to support me as a good friend and she did. By the end of the camp, she found out that she has type-2 diabetes. She only found that out because she had decided to play a helping role of support as one of my friends.
“Before I came to camp, I felt I was the only child diabetic in the country. I had thought: ‘Wow…me…that’s crazy. Out of all people, why me?’ But when I came last year I met five children at the camp just like me. These same children went to school with me, and little did I know they were diabetic. Well, after last year’s camp, we became very close friends, and now we support one another as best as we can all the time. We became friends over a condition that I thought would have ruined my life.”
Lenecia said all that to say that diabetes is not just a stigma on the old or elderly. It targets the young, as well as the old. She said that the camp teaches how to enjoy life with the condition, and how to appreciate of life more, especially with her type-1 and type-2 diabetic friends.
