I talk about peer support being life-changing and life-saving. I say those words frequently when asked to speak and write about why peer support is so important to me, and what I hear about the value of peer support from others in the diabetes community. 

But does it get more life changing than this?

Today, I’m writing about Jason and Irina, a couple of people I’m lucky to call friends. 

They met during the weekly OzDOC tweetchats back in October 2016.  Those weekly, rapid-fire hours of diabetes chatter fostered many great friendships. And this particular friendship, formed in between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on a Tuesday evening, led to Jason moving states to be with Irina. 

They really did start with a tweet!

This is one of those magical stories where diabetes may be the thing that brought people together, but the connection is so, so much more than that. I’ve been lucky enough to catch up with Jason and Irina a few times in person over the (pre-COVID) years. I remember after the first time I met them, I walked away thinking what a magical couple they are – so right for each other. 

It really wasn’t a surprise when I found out that they were engaged. Jason kept me updated with their wedding plans and I was so honoured that my family was invited to share their special day.

And then COVID happened.

There’s no need to talk about how the pandemic threw everything it could at this couple to try to disrupt their wedding. I lost count of the number of times their big day was rescheduled, Omicron being the most recent attempt to try to stop it. 

But, as it turns out, Jason and Irina’s yearning to get married was way, way stronger than even the most virulent strain (so far) of COVID. A couple of weeks ago, Jason messaged to say that they were going ahead, with a smaller celebration. 

And so, on Sunday of last week, the happy couple got married in what Jason described as a fairy tale. 

So much love to the two of you. I can’t take any credit at all for this gorgeous union – all credit for that goes to these two lovebirds. But I can say that it started with a tweet in an OzDOC tweetchat. And that is pretty damn amazing!

Viva gli sposi!

The gorgeous couple