TLDR: She brought her insulin pump and some backup insulin supplies on a trip, but the pump failed somehow, causing her a big hassle:

Foolishly, I did not bring the backup-of-the-backup. I never have! ... For me, the back-up-of-the-backup would be an insulin "pen" injector containing a long-acting insulin.

She also couldn't contact her on-call diabetes doctor because she didn't have the right phone number and it wasn't on the hospital website. She managed to get through the situation but had to cut her vacation short to return home where an emergency replacement pump had been shipped. Under "What I have learned" she says:

Here's what I will do:

• Bring an insulin pen with me the next time I go on vacation.
• Put the on-call number in my phone.

I can't imagine any self-respecting nerd not having a backup for a critical device. The saying is "two is one, one is none". I usually have two or three flashlights on me at any given moment, for dog's sake.

Anyway I'm not trying to put blame on her since she does figure out the right thing in the end. So it's a good cautionary tale. But I felt like the rant/sob story was a little bit overdone. Also, if she hadn't been able to keep the machine slightly working, the alternative would have been an expensive out-of-state ER visit, but that says it wasn't literally life and death.

I'll also add that when I've called the main number for my mom's PCP's office after hours, the voice message system actually gives some instructions for contacting the on-call MD if needed. I've had to use it for her once or twice. I would never have thought of looking on a web site instead of using the phone. Yes millenials, phone calls are still a thing in this world.

Anyway, "don't forget backups!" seems like the best take on the story.