Review: The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz

The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina's Triumph Over Diabetes by Zippora Karz grabbed me from the beginning due to the face that this twenty-one year old girl who's whole life is ahead of her and she has reached the top of her career, all her dreams have come true, only to have a horrible reality hit her. Diagnosed with Diabetes was not in the plans for Zippora, but the fatigue the sores under her arms were starting to take their toll and get her attention. Not really paying much attention at first to the sores, all ballerina's got sores of some kind from constantly being picked up under their arms, but these were getting worse. A doctor and a dermatologist later and a very high dose of antibiotics later the sores were only getting worse. Zippora also waved off her extreme exhaustion because of the practice for the ballet was so strenuous and stressful. All the dancers must be filling it, right?? On the night of the performance of her life, Zippora learns, as she is too busy to call her doctor back, that the doctor who she finally went to and got blood work done, well she was now calling her desperately trying to get a hold of the elusive ballerina. Things have become urgent and she was avoiding the doctor. The exhaustion, thirst and dizziness didn't subside. It continued and got worse. Zippora needed two more weeks until the ballet was over, then, well, then she would focus on herself. She didn't have time to worry about it now!

The major problem with well..... any problem if ignored, it doesn't go away and often times gets worse. She was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and daily insulin shots would have to become a way of life for her. This was really a stunning and heartfelt journey of one woman who overcame the fear of Diabetes and learned to live and thrive not letting it stop her. Zippora's story is filled with some really great factual and intriguing stories of a world that was so foreign to me. To imagine going away from home at fifteen and to dance with the New York City Ballet at 18, then to reached your life's dream and having ballets created just for you.... wow. It is just stunning. It is a hard reality and a blow to anyone when they find out they have diabetes or any disease for that matter. But Zippora travels through it beautifully with such grace and support I couldn't help but want to cheer her on for her strength and attitude towards life.

Synopsis: "I was a young dancer who left home at the age of 15 and was a member of the NYC Ballet by the age of 18. By 20 I was starring as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, dancing roles by Jerome Robbins, and having new ballets created on me by Peter Martins: the company director following the death of George Balanchine.
It was the stuff dreams are made of. It was a magical time. Then my world came crashing down when I was diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes at the age of 21. My body fell apart as I tried desperately to hold on to my dancing and my life. My story is about many things. On the one hand, it is about Diabetes: the insulin shots, the blood sugar management, the diet, the exercise, and the psychological effects of having a disease. It is about overcoming the hurdles and going on to become a soloist ballerina, performing with the New York City Ballet for 16 years, and then becoming a teacher, coach, and repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust.
I am proud of the career I had as a ballerina, but my real story is about learning how to live with, honor and respect the self and the body.
My story is about living a full life, and not letting obstacles defeat you and dissuade you from following your heart."