August 10, 2020 • 18 mins
April Stastny is one of those women who radiates love, joy, and courage. The kind of woman you want to grab a cup of coffee with, cozy up in a comfy chair, and just laugh. A girlfriend you can be real and honest with.
April is an Internal Wholesaler for Midland National Life Insurance and is passionate about helping others. She is involved with BigBrother BigSister, YWCA, Churches United, JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), and American Diabetes Association.
April’s journey has thrown her several curve balls, one of them being a life changing diagnosis at the age of 23.
Courage, tenacity, and grit all make up April’s incredible and heartfelt journey. I cannot wait to share April’s story with you.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Stuff is going to get thrown at you.
Like life is going to throw youlemons.
And I think that if you can haveyourself mental wise, like a
positive self-talk and thensurround yourself by positive
people, you will enjoy life muchmore.
And lastly, just to end, that isthat life is short and you don't
know what's going to happentomorrow.
(00:20):
And I don't say that like thefarthest from a scare tactic,
it's more like enjoy the daythat you have, try to be
positive and enjoy that daybecause life is short.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Glazing grid podcast was founded on the idea of
shattering success, perceptions,and showcasing authenticity at
its core.
I wanted to learn more about thereal story behind people's
journeys with a focus startingin my own community of Fargo,
North Dakota.
What emerges through thesecandid conversations is honesty,
strength, and courage with theripple effect of connection and
(00:56):
community.
It all starts with aconversation.
And on this one, I'm Jessiewinter, Robin, and this is
glazing grit
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Today's episode.
I am so encouraged for you tohear more about our guest for
heartfelt journey is filled withcourage, love and loss.
She is an internal wholesalerwith Midland national life
insurance, and is passionateabout giving back to the
community, includingorganizations such as juvenile
diabetes research foundation.
(01:27):
We dive deep where she shares,how she learned to shuffle cards
in the state penitentiary toreceiving a life changing
diagnosis at the age of 23here's April Stassney.
Thank you so much for being onthe show.
I really appreciate it.
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
It's my privilege.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
April, you grew up in Bismark, North Dakota.
You attended Bismarck statecollege before enrolling at MDSU
and North Dakota stateuniversity.
And in 2007 while at NBSU youhad a pretty incredible
experience.
What did you do?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yeah, I enrolled in a study abroad program.
I enrolled in the MCTs.
So as Maastricht center fortransatlantic studies and that
was in Maastricht, theNetherlands, I just enrolled by
myself, did not enroll withanyone else.
And then once I got over in theNetherlands, there was actually
(02:22):
a group of five of us that wereall from SDSU.
The best experience of my life.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Was it nerve wracking for you to decide to do that for
a semester and go solo
Speaker 1 (02:34):
The plan or the program was already put
together, right?
Like they were like, you'regoing here.
You need to book your flight,but then kind of gave you like a
crash course on like beingabroad.
And so it really helped calm,you know, any overwhelming
feelings having had thatpartnership through the college,
but yet it's still nervous goingto another country by myself
(02:58):
while I'm at.
But I have a huge support,especially my mom was, I mean,
she was always my biggest fan.
So she had just my back and wasso excited and she, she visited
me over there.
I would recommend to anybody, ifyou have the opportunity,
especially before, like youhave, you're married and with
kids, and it's just harder takethat opportunity to study abroad
(03:20):
and learn a different culturethan your own.
Cause it's, it's phenomenal
Speaker 3 (03:25):
At NDSC you majored in speech communications.
How has that degree helped youin your career aspirations?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, that's a great question.
One for anybody who knows me, Ilove to talk.
I think initially I had thoughtthat I wanted to do like speech
pathology, but then when Igraduated with speech
communications degree, it'sinteresting my path and what's
led me to where I'm at now.
You know, I work as an internalwholesaler in the sales and
(03:52):
marketing department for Midlandnational.
I feel like there isn't a jobthat you can't benefit from the
speech communications degree andwhat it's taught me.
I love to talk.
I'll talk to anybody anytime,anywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So you currently live in Morehead, Minnesota, and mom
to two boys.
Your journey began in this Mark.
Can you share what life was likein those early years?
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yeah, absolutely.
I love Bismarck and I, I did alittle bit of moving around when
I was younger.
My mom was a single mom.
When she had me, she gotpregnant at 17 and had me when
she was 18.
And then throughout my life wasa single mom.
And so we lived in Mandarin whenI was born.
And then we moved to my notNorth Dakota when I was in
(04:37):
second and third grade so thatmy mom could pursue her teaching
degree at my not state.
And then we moved back toBismarck for a couple of years.
Then she accepted a teachingposition in Regan, North Dakota.
I'm like, I have to remember.
Yeah, Regan North Dakota.
The population was 50.
My mom and I made the population52.
(04:58):
We were there just one year whenI was in seventh grade.
And then we moved back toBismark and then did one year at
Bismark state college.
My dad, my biological father wasin and out of my life.
When I was born.
My dad came to visit me in thehospital in handcuffs,
accompanied by two policeofficers.
And then throughout ni growingup in Mandarin Bismarck, I would
(05:21):
visit him with my grandma at theBismark state penitentiary.
I learned to shuffle cardsthere.
They would always play cardsobviously.
And I mean, it wasn't out of theordinary, but now I'm so happy
to say that, that I have astepdad who's been in my life
since I've been 16.
And he has been a phenomenal, Imean, he just has been the best
(05:43):
person.
And so my dad was in and out ofmy life and still kind of is I
still just, I feel like gotsomewhat of that male figure
from my grandpa.
And then once I was 16 from mystepdad,
Speaker 3 (05:55):
What is your favorite card game?
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Okay.
Well, I've been lately playing alot of, um, PNA if you know what
that is from college, but Idon't want to say it because I
don't know, but anyways, butbesides that, okay.
But my favorite game is the cardgame Rummy.
And I grew up playing that and I, I, I learned that a long time
ago, so I'll, we'll, we'll gowith that,
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Right?
Yeah.
Gin Rummy is maybe that's wheremy next get together is.
We'll have a glass of wine inplace and Rummy
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Romy night.
Oh, that sounds amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah.
Well, at 23 you experienced atraumatic and life changing
event.
What happened?
Speaker 1 (06:36):
I met my current husband at SDSU James and I got
engaged while we were engaged.
We started working out at thegym just to like get in shape,
prepare, you know, for thewedding, nothing crazy.
Like I was doing seriously, thetreadmill or the elliptical.
And then I ended up losing like13 pounds and then I was
(07:00):
drinking just a ton of water.
And because I was drinking allthat water, I was going to the
bathroom all the time.
Well, again, this is why myquote I'm like, you don't always
know why things happen the waythat they do, but it just, you
know, in my head.
So it was a coincidence thatit's just like, wow, we're,
we're working out like a lost 13pounds.
I'm drinking all this water.
(07:20):
Which to be honest, I'm notworking out that hard.
But in that same time, I hadjust accepted a job, brought me
into the life insuranceindustry.
And so I got full benefits.
So I got full benefits.
So I was like, you know, Ishould go get a physical, right.
I should go see my doctor.
She was like, Oh, how, how arethings going?
And this and that.
And I said, great.
I said, but it is kind ofinteresting.
I've been working out, not thathardcore, but I've lost 13
(07:44):
pounds.
I'm drinking all this water allthe time, going to the bathroom
all the time.
Well, those are three key,primary number one, two, and
three symptoms of diabetes.
And so when I said those threethings, she said, Oh, April, she
goes, well, I'm going to need tocheck your blood sugar.
And I was like, what is that?
What do you mean?
(08:04):
And so she did prick my finger.
We tested my blood sugar.
It was very high.
So then we did blood work.
My blood sugar was 890.
A normal blood sugar should bebetween 80 and one 10.
I was diagnosed with type onediabetes at the age of 23.
And I'm now age 35.
There's my life before diabetesin my life.
(08:26):
Now, like there is no break.
Every single thing I do in mylife is directly impacted and
has an effect on my diabetes.
I did decide to be reallyproactive.
Like I'm going to research moreabout the disease.
I'm going to get involved.
I'm going to take care ofmyself.
So I will say that I give myselfa Pat on the back because I do
take good care of myself, but Ialso have an amazing support
(08:48):
system and a support team thathelps me as well.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
And you have been in the spotlight a number of times
diagnosed.
I mean, right
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Away, I wanted to know what support groups I could
be involved in, whatorganizations in town I could be
involved in.
I initially I was at Essentiaand I had a really good, uh,
endocrinologist.
And I asked her what supportgroups were available.
And at that time, every otherTuesday at two o'clock was like
(09:16):
a support group.
And it was really geared towardstype two.
So I was like, okay, well, one Iwork too.
I'm not type two diabetic three.
I think it was kind of gearedtowards older people.
So I was like that, that doesn'thelp me.
I wanted to put together like asupport group for younger people
or for type one diabetics toconnect and just to, so you
didn't feel alone.
(09:37):
But then I also, I got involvedwith the American diabetes
association and I did a coupleof their walks and I was on
their volunteer committee andthen the JDRF, which is juvenile
diabetes research foundation.
And when the JDRF came to town,I really got involved with them.
The JDRF is specifically formedand for the reason of finding a
(09:59):
cure for type one.
So for the past couple of years,I've, uh, did fundraising for
them.
I had asked my company, whichI'll give a shout out to Midland
national and our parent companySammons financial group.
Every year, I ask them for acharitable donation and they
have donated$20,000 every year.
And I met so many great peopleand like specifically understand
(10:21):
like the everyday struggles, youknow, of type one diabetes.
I've met so many great peoplethrough being involved in and
yeah, creating awareness andtype one diabetes can happen to
anybody.
Basically.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Thank you for your work.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thank you for, for asking me inand hosting me cause I, I want
to spread more awareness.
So I appreciate that
Speaker 3 (10:41):
April.
I want to transition to anothermoment in your life that for so
many words can just fall short.
Your mom was your best friend.
Would you mind sharing a littlebit more about your mom?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
So my mom was a single mom.
Um, growing up with me my bestfriend, gosh, talk about your
number one supporter and numberone, cheerleader and someone who
you could just go to foranything and like help me become
the person I am and to take ongoing back to college, to get
her teaching degree, when youhave a second grader and we
(11:16):
didn't grow up with a lot ofmoney and she was just such an
amazing, incredible woman.
And she also liked to talk toanybody anywhere, anytime.
So I get that from her.
I lost my mom five years ago tosuicide.
That word is still hard for meto say, right?
The word suicide, what I'velearned in the past five years
(11:38):
in going through grief of losingsomeone to suicide is that we
don't need to be ashamed or anegative stigma.
I think we just need to, again,kind of like type one diabetes,
create more awareness, somethingthat I've learned in the last
five years and going to suicidesupport groups.
So one word of advice we reallydon't like to use the word
(12:02):
committed suicide because youassociate the word commit to a
crime, right?
So that's why I, you know, I, Itend to say that I lost my mom
due to suicide.
She dealt with depression andanxiety, her whole life.
I deal with anxiety in, in mylife.
And I think there's just thisbig, huge gap and whole in
(12:22):
mental illness.
I almost want to say like, youknow, some people die from a
brain tumor.
You know, my mom passed away dueto cancer of her heart or cancer
of her brain, you know?
And there's just, there's a lotthat goes into that.
But yeah, that's been probablythe hardest thing I've ever gone
(12:43):
through in my life.
My mom loved hot air balloons,just, she had a hot air balloon
tattoo and she just loved hotair balloons.
We were out at the Lake and Ross, my stepdad was out at the Lake
with us and he still lives inBismarck.
So he had come out to Fargo andwe went out to our lakes and we
look up what's in the sky tohotter balloons and just give
you goosebumps.
(13:03):
But whatever you believe in what, whether it's a higher power or
God, or it's a coincidence orwhatever you want to believe in.
I sincerely believe that thatwas like somehow a sign or like
a April, like I'm, I'm watchingover you.
Like, I know that my mom didn'tdo that to me.
My mom was in a lot of pain.
It gives me some peace knowingthat she's not in pain or
(13:26):
suffering anymore, it doesn'ttake away the huge amount of
loss and hole in my heart.
I feel from her not being hereon earth with me, but it does
provide some peace knowing thatshe's in a good place refill,
never go away.
Like, I don't think it'll everlesson to be honest that, you
know, the bigger, the love, thebigger the pain, but I do think
(13:50):
it goes in waves.
And that one quote that I sharedwith you, um, that I think that
you'll post on the website isthat we may not know the reason
why things happen.
I don't know the reason or whatgood quote, good could come from
losing my mom due to suicide.
But I do feel that things dohappen for some sort of a
reason, even if we don't everfind out what that reason is.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
She sounds like such an incredible woman.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing April, whoinspires you?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So many people inspire me.
I think there's a lot of womenin my life that have inspired
me.
Rihanna and Lacey have inspiredme when, when you talk about
like, just like empowering womenand empowering your other mom
friends, right?
Or any woman who is just such ahard worker and just dedicated
and has this, I don't know,enthusiasm for life and bring
(14:45):
support like lazy and Briannajust have this way of like
bringing you into this circle.
And like, life is messy, but yetit's cool.
And it's awesome too.
Like in like you can enjoy itand surround yourself by good
people.
I mean, I did have my mom in mylife for a long time and she
inspired me and I, I mean, shestill does and best friends,
(15:05):
Amanda and Melissa and Carrie,they inspire me a lot of
incredible women in my life thatinspire me.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
What is a piece of advice that you would like to
share?
Speaker 1 (15:16):
There's so many good things out there, but if I'm
speaking honest, right.
And just like, what comes to me?
I feel like it's just creatingyour life, like creating an
environment where you surroundyourself by positive people.
You have a positive self-talk.
And if you do that, I think thatyou will just enjoy life more.
(15:38):
And the reason why I say that isbecause, you know, I deal with
anxiety and talk about it allthe time.
I'm open to talk to anybodyabout it.
I just think with today'ssociety and social media and
being a mom and, and life beingcomplicated and messy, it's just
stuff is going to get thrown atyou.
Like life is going to throw youlemons.
And I think that if you can haveyourself like mental wise, like
(16:02):
a positive self-talk and thensurround yourself by positive
people, you will enjoy life muchmore.
And lastly, just to end, that isthat life is short and you don't
know what's going to happentomorrow.
And I don't say that like thefarthest from a scare tactic,
it's more like enjoy the daythat you have, try to be
positive and enjoy that daybecause life is short
Speaker 3 (16:25):
April.
What are you looking forward toin the coming months and years?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Well, I look forward to the Lake every single
weekend.
There is a group of ladies outat the Lake that we have formed
a really special bond in thecoming years.
I just, I look forward toenjoying life as much as I can,
trying to keep the negativityout and keep the positivity in
watching my kids grow, you know,working for the amazing company
(16:52):
that I work for and continuingthat and just enjoying life as
much as you can.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Wait for you to go.
I have a lightning round ofquestions.
I want to ask you to end off ifthat's okay.
Okay.
Perfect.
All right.
Tea, your coffee, coffee, sweetor salty road trip or plane
ride.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Oh, can I do both right.
I gave you a plane ride
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Tacos or pizza?
All
Speaker 1 (17:22):
My favorites, you know, to be honest.
Okay.
Sorry.
I know you said lightning round,but pizza is my absolute
favorite and it's really hardfor a diabetic because it just
does not work.
Great.
I come to love tacos more justbecause they're easier for me to
manage with my diabetes, all thetablets,
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Tent, or hotel, hotel flats or heels, peanut butter or
jelly.
All right.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That ended.
I love that.
Thank you so much for sharingyour journey.
It's been a pleasure.
Thank you so much.
I just, I really think youlovely.
Ladies who created this podcast,like number one obviously is
local, which is amazing, but Ijust think it's so great what
you're doing and just sharingpeople's real life stories.
(18:11):
And it's just, it was such aprivilege.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Oh, thanks.
It's been fun.
If you would like to learn moreabout glazing grit and the
credible community leaders thatare highlighted on the show,
join the conversation where youlisten to your podcasts and
please subscribe, rate, andshare.
You can also follow the glazeand grit journey on glazing grit
, podcast.com.
(18:35):
I'm Jessie, winter Ravitch.
And thanks for listening to thisepisode.
Talk to you soon.
Stuff is going to get thrown at you.
Like life is going to throw youlemons.
And I think that if you can haveyourself mental wise, like a
positive self-talk and thensurround yourself by positive
people, you will enjoy life muchmore.
And lastly, just to end, that isthat life is short and you don't
know what's going to happentomorrow.
(00:20):
And I don't say that like thefarthest from a scare tactic,
it's more like enjoy the daythat you have, try to be
positive and enjoy that daybecause life is short.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Glazing grid podcast was founded on the idea of
shattering success, perceptions,and showcasing authenticity at
its core.
I wanted to learn more about thereal story behind people's
journeys with a focus startingin my own community of Fargo,
North Dakota.
What emerges through thesecandid conversations is honesty,
strength, and courage with theripple effect of connection and
(00:56):
community.
It all starts with aconversation.
And on this one, I'm Jessiewinter, Robin, and this is
glazing grit
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Today's episode.
I am so encouraged for you tohear more about our guest for
heartfelt journey is filled withcourage, love and loss.
She is an internal wholesalerwith Midland national life
insurance, and is passionateabout giving back to the
community, includingorganizations such as juvenile
diabetes research foundation.
(01:27):
We dive deep where she shares,how she learned to shuffle cards
in the state penitentiary toreceiving a life changing
diagnosis at the age of 23here's April Stassney.
Thank you so much for being onthe show.
I really appreciate it.
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
It's my privilege.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
April, you grew up in Bismark, North Dakota.
You attended Bismarck statecollege before enrolling at MDSU
and North Dakota stateuniversity.
And in 2007 while at NBSU youhad a pretty incredible
experience.
What did you do?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Yeah, I enrolled in a study abroad program.
I enrolled in the MCTs.
So as Maastricht center fortransatlantic studies and that
was in Maastricht, theNetherlands, I just enrolled by
myself, did not enroll withanyone else.
And then once I got over in theNetherlands, there was actually
(02:22):
a group of five of us that wereall from SDSU.
The best experience of my life.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Was it nerve wracking for you to decide to do that for
a semester and go solo
Speaker 1 (02:34):
The plan or the program was already put
together, right?
Like they were like, you'regoing here.
You need to book your flight,but then kind of gave you like a
crash course on like beingabroad.
And so it really helped calm,you know, any overwhelming
feelings having had thatpartnership through the college,
but yet it's still nervous goingto another country by myself
(02:58):
while I'm at.
But I have a huge support,especially my mom was, I mean,
she was always my biggest fan.
So she had just my back and wasso excited and she, she visited
me over there.
I would recommend to anybody, ifyou have the opportunity,
especially before, like youhave, you're married and with
kids, and it's just harder takethat opportunity to study abroad
(03:20):
and learn a different culturethan your own.
Cause it's, it's phenomenal
Speaker 3 (03:25):
At NDSC you majored in speech communications.
How has that degree helped youin your career aspirations?
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, that's a great question.
One for anybody who knows me, Ilove to talk.
I think initially I had thoughtthat I wanted to do like speech
pathology, but then when Igraduated with speech
communications degree, it'sinteresting my path and what's
led me to where I'm at now.
You know, I work as an internalwholesaler in the sales and
(03:52):
marketing department for Midlandnational.
I feel like there isn't a jobthat you can't benefit from the
speech communications degree andwhat it's taught me.
I love to talk.
I'll talk to anybody anytime,anywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
So you currently live in Morehead, Minnesota, and mom
to two boys.
Your journey began in this Mark.
Can you share what life was likein those early years?
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Yeah, absolutely.
I love Bismarck and I, I did alittle bit of moving around when
I was younger.
My mom was a single mom.
When she had me, she gotpregnant at 17 and had me when
she was 18.
And then throughout my life wasa single mom.
And so we lived in Mandarin whenI was born.
And then we moved to my notNorth Dakota when I was in
(04:37):
second and third grade so thatmy mom could pursue her teaching
degree at my not state.
And then we moved back toBismarck for a couple of years.
Then she accepted a teachingposition in Regan, North Dakota.
I'm like, I have to remember.
Yeah, Regan North Dakota.
The population was 50.
My mom and I made the population52.
(04:58):
We were there just one year whenI was in seventh grade.
And then we moved back toBismark and then did one year at
Bismark state college.
My dad, my biological father wasin and out of my life.
When I was born.
My dad came to visit me in thehospital in handcuffs,
accompanied by two policeofficers.
And then throughout ni growingup in Mandarin Bismarck, I would
(05:21):
visit him with my grandma at theBismark state penitentiary.
I learned to shuffle cardsthere.
They would always play cardsobviously.
And I mean, it wasn't out of theordinary, but now I'm so happy
to say that, that I have astepdad who's been in my life
since I've been 16.
And he has been a phenomenal, Imean, he just has been the best
(05:43):
person.
And so my dad was in and out ofmy life and still kind of is I
still just, I feel like gotsomewhat of that male figure
from my grandpa.
And then once I was 16 from mystepdad,
Speaker 3 (05:55):
What is your favorite card game?
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Okay.
Well, I've been lately playing alot of, um, PNA if you know what
that is from college, but Idon't want to say it because I
don't know, but anyways, butbesides that, okay.
But my favorite game is the cardgame Rummy.
And I grew up playing that and I, I, I learned that a long time
ago, so I'll, we'll, we'll gowith that,
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Right?
Yeah.
Gin Rummy is maybe that's wheremy next get together is.
We'll have a glass of wine inplace and Rummy
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Romy night.
Oh, that sounds amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Yeah.
Well, at 23 you experienced atraumatic and life changing
event.
What happened?
Speaker 1 (06:36):
I met my current husband at SDSU James and I got
engaged while we were engaged.
We started working out at thegym just to like get in shape,
prepare, you know, for thewedding, nothing crazy.
Like I was doing seriously, thetreadmill or the elliptical.
And then I ended up losing like13 pounds and then I was
(07:00):
drinking just a ton of water.
And because I was drinking allthat water, I was going to the
bathroom all the time.
Well, again, this is why myquote I'm like, you don't always
know why things happen the waythat they do, but it just, you
know, in my head.
So it was a coincidence thatit's just like, wow, we're,
we're working out like a lost 13pounds.
I'm drinking all this water.
(07:20):
Which to be honest, I'm notworking out that hard.
But in that same time, I hadjust accepted a job, brought me
into the life insuranceindustry.
And so I got full benefits.
So I got full benefits.
So I was like, you know, Ishould go get a physical, right.
I should go see my doctor.
She was like, Oh, how, how arethings going?
And this and that.
And I said, great.
I said, but it is kind ofinteresting.
I've been working out, not thathardcore, but I've lost 13
(07:44):
pounds.
I'm drinking all this water allthe time, going to the bathroom
all the time.
Well, those are three key,primary number one, two, and
three symptoms of diabetes.
And so when I said those threethings, she said, Oh, April, she
goes, well, I'm going to need tocheck your blood sugar.
And I was like, what is that?
What do you mean?
(08:04):
And so she did prick my finger.
We tested my blood sugar.
It was very high.
So then we did blood work.
My blood sugar was 890.
A normal blood sugar should bebetween 80 and one 10.
I was diagnosed with type onediabetes at the age of 23.
And I'm now age 35.
There's my life before diabetesin my life.
(08:26):
Now, like there is no break.
Every single thing I do in mylife is directly impacted and
has an effect on my diabetes.
I did decide to be reallyproactive.
Like I'm going to research moreabout the disease.
I'm going to get involved.
I'm going to take care ofmyself.
So I will say that I give myselfa Pat on the back because I do
take good care of myself, but Ialso have an amazing support
(08:48):
system and a support team thathelps me as well.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
And you have been in the spotlight a number of times
diagnosed.
I mean, right
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Away, I wanted to know what support groups I could
be involved in, whatorganizations in town I could be
involved in.
I initially I was at Essentiaand I had a really good, uh,
endocrinologist.
And I asked her what supportgroups were available.
And at that time, every otherTuesday at two o'clock was like
(09:16):
a support group.
And it was really geared towardstype two.
So I was like, okay, well, one Iwork too.
I'm not type two diabetic three.
I think it was kind of gearedtowards older people.
So I was like that, that doesn'thelp me.
I wanted to put together like asupport group for younger people
or for type one diabetics toconnect and just to, so you
didn't feel alone.
(09:37):
But then I also, I got involvedwith the American diabetes
association and I did a coupleof their walks and I was on
their volunteer committee andthen the JDRF, which is juvenile
diabetes research foundation.
And when the JDRF came to town,I really got involved with them.
The JDRF is specifically formedand for the reason of finding a
(09:59):
cure for type one.
So for the past couple of years,I've, uh, did fundraising for
them.
I had asked my company, whichI'll give a shout out to Midland
national and our parent companySammons financial group.
Every year, I ask them for acharitable donation and they
have donated$20,000 every year.
And I met so many great peopleand like specifically understand
(10:21):
like the everyday struggles, youknow, of type one diabetes.
I've met so many great peoplethrough being involved in and
yeah, creating awareness andtype one diabetes can happen to
anybody.
Basically.
Speaker 3 (10:32):
Thank you for your work.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thank you for, for asking me inand hosting me cause I, I want
to spread more awareness.
So I appreciate that
Speaker 3 (10:41):
April.
I want to transition to anothermoment in your life that for so
many words can just fall short.
Your mom was your best friend.
Would you mind sharing a littlebit more about your mom?
Speaker 1 (10:54):
So my mom was a single mom.
Um, growing up with me my bestfriend, gosh, talk about your
number one supporter and numberone, cheerleader and someone who
you could just go to foranything and like help me become
the person I am and to take ongoing back to college, to get
her teaching degree, when youhave a second grader and we
(11:16):
didn't grow up with a lot ofmoney and she was just such an
amazing, incredible woman.
And she also liked to talk toanybody anywhere, anytime.
So I get that from her.
I lost my mom five years ago tosuicide.
That word is still hard for meto say, right?
The word suicide, what I'velearned in the past five years
(11:38):
in going through grief of losingsomeone to suicide is that we
don't need to be ashamed or anegative stigma.
I think we just need to, again,kind of like type one diabetes,
create more awareness, somethingthat I've learned in the last
five years and going to suicidesupport groups.
So one word of advice we reallydon't like to use the word
(12:02):
committed suicide because youassociate the word commit to a
crime, right?
So that's why I, you know, I, Itend to say that I lost my mom
due to suicide.
She dealt with depression andanxiety, her whole life.
I deal with anxiety in, in mylife.
And I think there's just thisbig, huge gap and whole in
(12:22):
mental illness.
I almost want to say like, youknow, some people die from a
brain tumor.
You know, my mom passed away dueto cancer of her heart or cancer
of her brain, you know?
And there's just, there's a lotthat goes into that.
But yeah, that's been probablythe hardest thing I've ever gone
(12:43):
through in my life.
My mom loved hot air balloons,just, she had a hot air balloon
tattoo and she just loved hotair balloons.
We were out at the Lake and Ross, my stepdad was out at the Lake
with us and he still lives inBismarck.
So he had come out to Fargo andwe went out to our lakes and we
look up what's in the sky tohotter balloons and just give
you goosebumps.
(13:03):
But whatever you believe in what, whether it's a higher power or
God, or it's a coincidence orwhatever you want to believe in.
I sincerely believe that thatwas like somehow a sign or like
a April, like I'm, I'm watchingover you.
Like, I know that my mom didn'tdo that to me.
My mom was in a lot of pain.
It gives me some peace knowingthat she's not in pain or
(13:26):
suffering anymore, it doesn'ttake away the huge amount of
loss and hole in my heart.
I feel from her not being hereon earth with me, but it does
provide some peace knowing thatshe's in a good place refill,
never go away.
Like, I don't think it'll everlesson to be honest that, you
know, the bigger, the love, thebigger the pain, but I do think
(13:50):
it goes in waves.
And that one quote that I sharedwith you, um, that I think that
you'll post on the website isthat we may not know the reason
why things happen.
I don't know the reason or whatgood quote, good could come from
losing my mom due to suicide.
But I do feel that things dohappen for some sort of a
reason, even if we don't everfind out what that reason is.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
She sounds like such an incredible woman.
I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing April, whoinspires you?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
So many people inspire me.
I think there's a lot of womenin my life that have inspired
me.
Rihanna and Lacey have inspiredme when, when you talk about
like, just like empowering womenand empowering your other mom
friends, right?
Or any woman who is just such ahard worker and just dedicated
and has this, I don't know,enthusiasm for life and bring
(14:45):
support like lazy and Briannajust have this way of like
bringing you into this circle.
And like, life is messy, but yetit's cool.
And it's awesome too.
Like in like you can enjoy itand surround yourself by good
people.
I mean, I did have my mom in mylife for a long time and she
inspired me and I, I mean, shestill does and best friends,
(15:05):
Amanda and Melissa and Carrie,they inspire me a lot of
incredible women in my life thatinspire me.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
What is a piece of advice that you would like to
share?
Speaker 1 (15:16):
There's so many good things out there, but if I'm
speaking honest, right.
And just like, what comes to me?
I feel like it's just creatingyour life, like creating an
environment where you surroundyourself by positive people.
You have a positive self-talk.
And if you do that, I think thatyou will just enjoy life more.
(15:38):
And the reason why I say that isbecause, you know, I deal with
anxiety and talk about it allthe time.
I'm open to talk to anybodyabout it.
I just think with today'ssociety and social media and
being a mom and, and life beingcomplicated and messy, it's just
stuff is going to get thrown atyou.
Like life is going to throw youlemons.
And I think that if you can haveyourself like mental wise, like
(16:02):
a positive self-talk and thensurround yourself by positive
people, you will enjoy life muchmore.
And lastly, just to end, that isthat life is short and you don't
know what's going to happentomorrow.
And I don't say that like thefarthest from a scare tactic,
it's more like enjoy the daythat you have, try to be
positive and enjoy that daybecause life is short
Speaker 3 (16:25):
April.
What are you looking forward toin the coming months and years?
Speaker 1 (16:29):
Well, I look forward to the Lake every single
weekend.
There is a group of ladies outat the Lake that we have formed
a really special bond in thecoming years.
I just, I look forward toenjoying life as much as I can,
trying to keep the negativityout and keep the positivity in
watching my kids grow, you know,working for the amazing company
(16:52):
that I work for and continuingthat and just enjoying life as
much as you can.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Wait for you to go.
I have a lightning round ofquestions.
I want to ask you to end off ifthat's okay.
Okay.
Perfect.
All right.
Tea, your coffee, coffee, sweetor salty road trip or plane
ride.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Oh, can I do both right.
I gave you a plane ride
Speaker 3 (17:19):
Tacos or pizza?
All
Speaker 1 (17:22):
My favorites, you know, to be honest.
Okay.
Sorry.
I know you said lightning round,but pizza is my absolute
favorite and it's really hardfor a diabetic because it just
does not work.
Great.
I come to love tacos more justbecause they're easier for me to
manage with my diabetes, all thetablets,
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Tent, or hotel, hotel flats or heels, peanut butter or
jelly.
All right.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That ended.
I love that.
Thank you so much for sharingyour journey.
It's been a pleasure.
Thank you so much.
I just, I really think youlovely.
Ladies who created this podcast,like number one obviously is
local, which is amazing, but Ijust think it's so great what
you're doing and just sharingpeople's real life stories.
(18:11):
And it's just, it was such aprivilege.
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Oh, thanks.
It's been fun.
If you would like to learn moreabout glazing grit and the
credible community leaders thatare highlighted on the show,
join the conversation where youlisten to your podcasts and
please subscribe, rate, andshare.
You can also follow the glazeand grit journey on glazing grit
, podcast.com.
(18:35):
I'm Jessie, winter Ravitch.
And thanks for listening to thisepisode.
Talk to you soon.
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