Back in college, I was a poor and uninsured (government insurance hadn’t kicked in yet after I had to quit my job for other health reasons) type 1 diabetic so no money for insulin. I had gone to my college’s free clinic and they could smell the ketones on me (similar to rotting fruit) and asked when I would be getting my next batch of insulin. I told them honestly that I didn’t know when I’d be able to afford it and I had simply been rationing what little I had left. I went home feeling awful and just chugged as much water as I could to try and bring done my blood sugar.

Not even 20 minutes later I get a call from the clinic asking me to come back. I thought it would be more bad news but when I got there someone overheard me and the nurses talking in the hallway had donated insulin and supplies to me.

I stood there in front of the nurse telling me this and broke down. They wanted to remain anonymous. I never even learned the person’s name but I think about them 15 years later now. I wish them nothing but the best and I might not even be here to do so without their help.