Stories

Taking Charge of Your Diabetes
Ms. Thelma Harney
McClellanville, SC

Listening to Mrs. Thelma Harney you hear the soft, musical tones of every word.  You see, Mrs. Harney grew up in the Gullah culture. Coming to Charleston to work while attending school, she married, began her family, and moved back to McClellanville to rear her children. Along the way, Mrs. Harney became a community-spirited person, active Church member, member of the Eastern Stars, and skilled crab company employee.

Mrs. Harney is a born storyteller. She talks about her life with such enthusiasm and passion that you feel like you've lived it with her. For whether it's about a sick child or Hurricane Hugo, Mrs. Harney makes you feel that everything is "day clear."

Mrs. Harney has had diabetes for over 40 years. For almost as many years, she has controlled her diabetes with diet and exercise.
Mrs. Harney is a very active senior citizen. She gets plenty of exercise in her garden, with her senior group, doing community work, and by quilting. She is still in control, watching her diet, staying active, and now takes one pill daily to help her control her glucose levels. "I have never missed a doctor's appointment. Nor have I ever spent anytime in the hospital."

"I always have something growing."

"I love to garden and I just keep moving, making my quilts, canning food, or sometimes just getting out with my sister.
My children don't want me to drive to Charleston, so I just go as far as Mt. Pleasant. And then of course I go to the Center and my Church and my Eastern Star Meetings. I was Worthy Matron, you know."

Moving, Moving, Moving "I keep busy." This is the way Thelma Harney has lived and continues to live. Her quilts, her family, her canning, her Church, her Community, and until recently, her regular job (Mrs. Harney, at 82 years old, was laid off because the crab-processing plant closed) -- all get her care and love.

"I have made quilts for all my grandchildren. I am making more now."

I earned my high school diploma when I was grown back in the Seventies. They had a program down at the Center and I went. I have encouraged my children and grandchildren to get their education to keep going and they have. My oldest, the one who was sick for so long, worked for the school system until she retired, and one daughter worked with me at the plant and my son, too. They all had to work to help out.

My granddaughter was up at USC Columbia when she got sick, and I said "send her to me, I'll get her well."  She has diabetes, TYPE I.  She takes the needle, but she also watches her food and exercise. She's doing better now and she graduated.

Mrs. Harney is always learning. This is a picture of Mrs. Harney with her own graduation picture.

"Mrs. Harney is an inspiration"

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