Kay, Maeve, and I recently took our very first trip to Reno, Nevada, with my boyfriend, Tyler, to visit his family for a few days. It was full of “firsts” for us: our first trip all together, our first trip since Kay’s diabetes diagnosis, and our very first adventure traveling with Maeve. Preparing for everything felt like a lot at first, but to my surprise, the trip went so much smoother than I anticipated. Maeve handled both flights beautifully, and Kay did amazing too, even with all the noise, chaos, and crowds that come with airports and airplanes.
Our time in Reno was filled with new adventures. We spent a day exploring Lake Tahoe, where Kay and Maeve experienced the beach surrounded by people and dogs. We walked through casinos, spent hours in the arcade, and even sat down for a nice meal at a restaurant. Through it all, Maeve stayed focused on her important job of watching over Kay and alerting for blood sugar changes, even in the busiest and loudest environments. I was so proud of her.
Kay had an incredible time as well. She loved being with Tyler and his family, soaking up arcade fun, and joining in on all the activities we squeezed into our visit. It felt like nonstop excitement, but in the best way possible. Traveling always comes with its challenges, especially with diabetes in the mix, but the joy on Kay’s face made every bit of preparation and effort worthwhile.
Coming home, I gave Kay a well-deserved day off from school to rest and reset before jumping back into our routine. Rest is just as important as the adventures, and she definitely needed that time to recharge.
Now we’re looking forward to what’s next. In less than a month, we’ll be packing up again for the DSP Summit, and we cannot wait to reconnect with our community there. Each trip teaches us something new, and I’m so grateful for the memories we’re creating along the way.