Insulin or dinner

Your pledge means Connie doesn’t have to make the grim choice between food and medicine

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Name: Connie

Resident of St. Louis city

Agency: Connie has worked for several United Way-funded agencies, and works closely with the St. Louis Diabetes Coalition, a local organization linked to the American Diabetes Association

Life challenge: Connie knew she was at risk for diabetes. Her grandmother, great-grandmother and multiple cousins and aunts had been diagnosed with type II diabetes. Connie had even cared for her grandmother as she was treating her diabetes. So when Connie started experiencing some common symptoms in late 1994, she knew she had to get an appointment with her doctor. Her blood sugar measured a sky-high 384 at her first doctor’s visit – almost four times the normal of 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood.

Immediately, Connie’s mind went to her work. As a social worker at a United Way-funded agency, she’d worked with HIV/AIDS patients.

“I heard God saying, ‘Now it’s you who has an incurable disease.’ I had to get past the emotionally devastating part of that,” Connie said.

How United Way helped: Connie’s professional experience helping others with illnesses assisted her in dealing with her own.

“The United Way comes in to fill that gap for clients who need assistance or may not qualify for other funding,” Connie said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to reduce their worries when they receive the help they need. That's why United Way agencies are so needed.”

Connie daily sees how United Way of Greater St. Louis helps agencies open doors for people.

“What would we do without United Way?” Connie said. “If it had not been for the efforts of United Way, I don’t know where people would be.”

The same could be said about Connie herself.

Good news result:  True to her personality, Connie is using her struggles as inspiration to serve others. In addition to her job, she works with the St. Louis Diabetes Coalition, a collaborative organization created in 1998 by a diverse group of community partners including the American Diabetes Association, a United Way agency. Connie has also started a ministry at her church called Circle of Love Women’s Health Ministry. In just a few months, 23 women had enrolled in the ministry – 18 of whom were diabetic. Most of the women were African-American and lived in areas where there is a high risk for diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

Based on her own experiences, Connie also supports the United Way each year.

“I always give,” Connie said. “It’s not a lot, but I figure if I give, and you give, and he gives and she gives, then that’s how we get from point A to point B.”

Give today. Help today. By supporting the United Way, you’re helping people like Connie get – and give – the health services they need.