Six months ago, I got an email from Linda Mojer, Managing Editor for Racquetball Magazine asking us to help this clinic here in Phoenix. We responded and called the clinic and having been talking on the phone, almost weekly, for the past six months. We just could not get our schedules to work out so we could all meet; that is, until yesterday. Please, let me tell you what Linda got us in to.

When you walk into the offices of the D4D Health & Wellness Medical Center, “Diabetics 4 Diabetics,” it is like any other typical medical office. The waiting room with magazines, people sitting in chairs filling out paperwork and staff running back and forth. The difference is the sense of well-being and joy I see on the patients' faces. It’s as if they are happy to be here, not worried about being here.

As I am sitting there waiting for my appointment, a lady leans over and asks if I am there to see Bill. I said, “yes.” She leans over and tells me she loves Bill, he is the greatest person she has ever met, he has literally saved her life and he makes her feel so good about being a diabetic, like diabetics are the chosen people. She starts crying, then goes on to explain how she was so out of control with her diabetes, how her own Doctor didn’t really have the time to spend telling her how to control it and what to do; other than the same thing she has heard from every Doctor, “watch your diet and exercise,” the only thing she has ever been told. “It’s different with Bill,” she says.

She tells me, “my Doctor referred me to Diabetics 4 Diabetics, and Bill in particular, because they are very successful for teaching diabetics how to control their diabetes and have a unique organization; everyone on staff is either a diabetic or has a family member that is a diabetic. They all know diabetes and even Bill is a diabetic!”

She then goes on to tell me, “I didn’t call them for two or so weeks after because I didn’t have any money and live on disability. I get $1140.00 per month and have to make that stretch, then one day I got a call from Diabetics 4 Diabetics telling me to get my butt in here; we are going to help you, young lady.” She told the nurse that called she didn’t have any money to pay and that is why she had not called and the nurse told her, “Did we ask for money? Did we say we are worried about it? Don’t you want to meet Bill? Now tell me when can I set your appointment?”

She made the appointment and on the day of her appointment, she called to cancel, because she didn’t have any transportation. The nurse tells her, “honey, we are Diabetics 4 Diabetics, if you have a problem, then we all have a problem. We are here to help you in every respect, not only in getting control of your diabetes but whatever we can do for you. Now you tell me your address and I am going to call a few diabetics in your area and see if I can get someone there to pick you up, bring you here and then return you home. This is what we do and the pleasure is all ours.” She told me she never cried as hard as she did after that phone call because it had been so long since anyone ever cared about her or what she needed.

The rest of the story is even more remarkable. She expected her visit to the clinic to be about the same as every other clinic. She would fill out papers, (which she had to do), then wait, (not as long as she thought), then see Bill for ten minutes, be told to diet and exercise, and then be taken home.

When she saw Bill they spent over two hours together. He explained what diabetes is in a way that she finally understood it. He used plain language, made her laugh at it and made her feel like being a diabetic was the greatest thing in the world, that being a diabetic makes you special and if you do what he says, she will not only control it but lose weight, feel better than she has every felt and out live everyone else…”because we diabetics are way cool and take control…we rock!”

She then got quiet and told me this, “Bill is the most down to earth person I have ever met. You know he cares about every patient. He takes his time. He listens and you know what? He made me feel good I was a diabetic and as being a diabetic, we are special, we take care of our own and gave me a direction, focus and has made me feel more important than I have ever felt in my life. And you know what? Diabetics are way cool and we do rock!” I was moved to tears.

When I was told I could go back and see, Bill, I was escorted to his office. He was on the phone with the food bank trying to get food for someone. He waved to me and told me to sit down; he would be off the phone in a minute. I looked around his office and saw the standard plaques, certifications and such, however, among those was a picture of a gravestone, Raymond F. Branson, 1947-1995. It stood out among the pretty plaques and certificates. Made you stare at is for some reason. I wondered why that was there of all places.

Then I hear a loud YES, looked over and Bill is standing up smiling as if he won the lottery. I asked, “Good news?” He said, “Yep, I got the food bank to set us up so we can order boxes of food for some diabetics that have none. It’s great! Just great! Now I have to call a couple of diabetics out there and ask them to go pick them up and deliver them to three diabetics that are so darn broke they can’t even buy food, or what they should be eating because they are on such a limited income. At least now I can quit worrying about it and know that need is met.”

I asked, “What exactly does Diabetics 4 Diabetics do? Are you guys a medical clinic or social services agency? Bill started laughing and then said this, “Diabetics 4 Diabetics is an organization that not only teaches diabetes control, but goes one step further; it's diabetics helping diabetics in every aspect of their lives. We see a diabetic, primarily to get their blood sugars under control and teach each diabetic how to be their own primary health care manager. The diabetics that have insurance or pay for the program do so, but there is a significant number that cannot. Over the years we have learned that unless a diabetic has an investment in his or her diabetes program, they don’t pay attention to it as closely as those who pay for the program. So we make all diabetics pay, some with money, and others with time."

"When a diabetic is referred to us, we treat them, simple as that. If they have insurance, that is great, if they can pay for it out of pocket, that is great, but if they have neither, we have made that just as great. We are Diabetics 4 Diabetics, meaning diabetics helping other diabetics. Let me explain."

"I have three diabetics on limited income. This is a concern for me as stress can affect glucose levels and no matter what they do, if they are stressed out, reducing those levels is not going to happen. So our course of treatment is to learn what is stressing them out and turning that stress into something positive rather than negative. So, for me, it’s a phone call to several agencies. I have diabetics that can’t afford food; we find a way to get them food. Here is the best part. We found the food. Now I call diabetics who owe us time. I ask them to pick up the food and deliver it to the other three diabetics needing it. The diabetic picking it up now has made a payment and he feels great about it, his favor is met and he, or she, gets a sense of pride and self worth from it. The diabetics getting the food are grateful, share that with the delivery person, which just adds more interest to the good feelings and they all feel good because it’s a diabetic bringing them the food, one of their own so to speak and they all bond. This is what it is really about."

"If I have a diabetic that does not speak English, I take another Spanish diabetic out that speaks English as my interpreter. They see, first hand, someone else’s problems and they are a part of the treatment. They get more out of it, I think, that can’t be measured in money. The real value is the fact they helped and helped in a big way. They also realize they need to continue helping."

"When a diabetic comes in here and the first thing they say is, ‘I don’t have any money to pay,’ we simply tell them not to worry about it, we have a program. Then I ask what they do. I write it on their chart and enter it in our database. Then I explain to them, we are Diabetics 4 Diabetics, I may call you one day to help out another diabetic in need of your particular skills. If I do this I expect you to take care of the need on a cost of materials basis only, because if he or she ever needs help, it will be provided the same way and this works. By the time I get through our first session, they understand the importance of diabetics helping other diabetics, they are not getting anything for free, they are paying for what they do get and they get some great feelings because of it. This is what Diabetics 4 Diabetics is all about. Now, what are you going to do for my diabetics?” and then he busted out laughing. Before I answered I asked, “What is that picture of the tombstone on the wall?”

Bill got a bit quiet and then told me this story, “My brother, Ray, was the sweetest, gentlest and good man I have ever known. I don’t think I ever heard him utter a bad word about anyone. He was also a diabetic. The problem Ray had was that he was a bit slow and didn’t pay attention very well. He never took diabetes seriously, ate what he wanted and didn’t even know how to do a simple glucose test."

"I would try and try to tell him what to do and what not to do. He would always agree to do it but seldom did. He was the perfect example of a diabetic not doing anything to maintain control. As such he had all the complications: stokes, nerve damage to his feet, eye problems, kidney problems and eventually those complications killed him. I keep the picture up there to remind me to work harder at convincing people what to do. I also keep it up there to show diabetics what the end looks like if they don’t take care of their diabetes. It’s a good reminder for me and all the diabetics I treat. Now, what are you going to do for us?” and he laughs out loud putting the sadness out of his mind.

Bill had contacted, Linda Moyer, Executive Director of the United States Racquetball Association Magazine, a longtime friend of his, about starting a racquetball league for diabetics because he used to play pro, in his younger days, and always recommends this sport for diabetics as part of their exercise program. He asked Linda if she could use her considerable network of manufacturers to secure some used equipment, racquets, balls and such, for D4D so they could get diabetics playing. He explained they don’t have the expendable income to buy the stuff and it sometimes comes down, with diabetics, buying food or medicine.

Linda responded quickly, contacted some manufacturers and my husband, Darrold Key, who is President of the Arizona Racquetball Association. My name is Karen and I am the owner of Key Sports and we are here to pick-up the racquetball and run with it. We have seen for ourselves what a good cause this is and it’s worthy of our time, energy and efforts. Diabetic Wellness through racquetball, great exercise and proper training is creating a “League of Their Own.” By the time I left there, I wanted to build them a court of their own with my bare hands. He made me feel as if I had not only a mission, but also an obligation, to help someone else.

What an organization D4D is and how dedicated they are to diabetics and diabetes education. Everything they do is focused to diabetics. On their website, they have a Favorites Section. If there is a company that wants to advertise their service or product on that site, which reaches 70,000 diabetics in Arizona and gets over 800,000 hits per month, they can offer any amount of money to get on, but unless they offer something for diabetics, no amount of money will get them on. They feature their, “Diabetic of the Month,” and “Doctor of the Month,” with pride. Bill says, “Everyone deserves to feel like a star sometimes.” He likes making stars, looking at them too.

All I can say is, “WOW.” I wanted you to know what Linda did for us and I hope you feel the same thing I do right now. This was an experience and meeting I will never forget, nor will “Dr. Bill,” let me forget. Smile. Linda, you did a good thing and should feel great about it. We not only found a cause here, but also made some very profound friendships as a result. We both thank you. And I wanted to say thanks to Bill and the rest of the staff at Diabetics 4 Diabetics for the wonderful feelings I took away with me the day I got to visit with Bill. As a result of this meeting and our desire to assist Diabetics 4 Diabetics, the Arizona Racquetball Association and Key Sports are joining Diabetics 4 Diabetics is getting the first official Diabetic Racquetball League in the State of Arizona and, hopefully, the entire country.

Again, thank you Linda Mojer, you have done your job and this is what sportsmanship is all about, doing it on the court and off. If not for you we would not have been lucky enough to meet Bill, in particular, and be introduced to some good people trying to do some good things. This is an organization that deserves everyone’s help and support. We have made friends for life and been educated at the same time. Thank you.