Kaufmann is a founding member of Big Apple Circus Clown Care

Man Marries Diabetes in Downtown New York City

canada goose factory outlet The invitation read “Marry the Beast,” and more than 100 people were in attendance. The marriage was actually a commitment ceremony. Paul Binder renewed the vows he buy canada goose jacket cheap had made to his Type 2 diabetes when diagnosed 18 years ago. canada goose factory outlet

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canada goose black friday sale Marina Tsaplina (on right) founder of The Betes. Photo courtesy of Tsaplina. canada goose black friday sale

canada goose outlet nyc Tsaplina is a performing artist, puppeteer and canada goose outlet executive and artistic director of The Betes. She told me the idea of a wedding first came to her last July. canada goose outlet nyc

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canada goose outlet uk Tsaplina long thought of her own Type 1 diabetes, which she got at the age of 2, as her “beast.” “But then I realized that all that I was going through, my struggle with depression and low self esteem, not just my diabetes, were my beast,” Marina said. canada goose outlet uk

canada goose outlet uk sale “No one has to see their illness as a beast, but there is probably something that is attached to it that needs to be heard and healed. That said, our work doesn’t ‘cure’ or ‘treat’ the physical disease. It helps make the burden lighter and the person feel more free.” canada goose outlet uk sale

canada goose outlet The Betes’ artistic director and producer is Deborah canada goose coats on sale Kaufmann. Kaufmann is a founding member of Big Apple Circus Clown Care, the world’s first professional hospital clowning program and the recipient of the Raoul Wollenberg Humanitarian Award for her work canada goose clearance with Clown Care. Kaufmann has entertained thousands of ill children in hospitals and trained all of the “Clown Doctors” who participate in the program. canada goose outlet

canada goose outlet store Play, humor, joy, being open and bringing our stories out into the light, these are things we seldom talk about in chronic illness and never see. Yet, as in narrative medicine’s therapeutic story telling, these are centuries old means through which to connect to, and transform, our stories of hardship to heal. canada goose outlet store

canada goose outlet toronto factory That night as we watched Paul on stage with his officiate, sipping our wine, gladdened to be among friends who share diabetes and many esteemed health professionals, we witnessed a new ritual a public commitment to one’s canada goose own health care. canada goose outlet toronto factory

canada goose canadian goose jacket outlet reviews Rituals allow us to soften grief, heighten confidence and mark an event as significant and meaningful. As did Paul’s face reading his vows and taking his old partner, diabetes, into his heart anew to tend to and to love as long as they both shall live. canada goose outlet reviews

canada goose outlet new york city Should you like to arrange your own commitment ceremony, “Marry the Beast” or a service for healthcare teams to reaffirm commitment to their practice, “Marry the Care” contact The Betes canada goose outlet new york city.