My daughter is the reason that I am on this site. She is my reward from God. I had my first child when I was 25. It was a boy. He is what you call a "high maintenance" baby. He was a handful. Cute, but a handful. He was planned. He was expected. We wanted a boy and we got one. Oh boy did we get one. He is now 11 and is still a handful.
Two years later, my favorite Aunt passed away. It was on Leap Day. Amazing huh? I was grieving. Lots and lots of grieving. I thought my body was reacting to the stress and the general blahs. I ignored my body for two months then realized that I was about to embark on another journey. Becky was more than likely conceived a couple of days after my Aunt died.
She was not planned. She was not expected. We were not ready for another baby but we got one. She slept through the night on her first night home. She didn't cry. She didn't cause a fuss. She potty trained in one day. She was never sick.
In July 2008, she got the Chicken Pox. It was awful because she had the vaccination. She wasn't supposed to have to do this. She didn't scratch (because Mommy said that it would scar her beautiful skin). She didn't gripe because it was just something she had to do. She endured.
Little did we know, this may have been the "virus" that touched off what happened to Becky on September 9, 2009. On this day, we took Becky to the doctor because she was drinking a lot. She was going to the bathroom a lot. She was eating a lot, and she was extremely hungry. My husband had seen a public service announcement about Juvenile Diabetes. We just thought we would check it out. Just make sure that this was not what she had.
Three days later as we leave the hospital with all of her diabetic supplies, I felt the same way I did when I took her home for the first time. She is still my beautiful butterfly. She goes through and comes out even more beautiful than before. She is my inspiration and the reason that I was put on this earth. I love both of my children because they are both so different and enrich my life in different ways. They complete me. Becky is special because she will not only inspire me and make my life better, but she will bring inspiration to all those around her.
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My Story (Tell me why you are here.)
- By TRPaul
- Posted October 30, 2009 at 9:14 am · 1 reply
- In Raising a child with diabetes
- Shared with the public
1 reply
- By Kathybell
- Posted November 7, 2009 at 10:49 am
- Report post
Hi,
Thank You for your post. I am new to this forum and I too am here because my daughter has type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed at the age of 3 (shortly after a bout with the chicken pox) The doctor suspected this may have triggered her immune system but we were never quite sure.
Afton is now 14 and has two older brothers 23 and 20. Afton is a gift and she was an unexpected blessing. Her brothers adore her and although they no longer live at home(in Alberta and we are in Winnipeg) they phone her more often than me.(boohoo)
Afton has always been involved in hockey and soccer and it was not a real problem until this year when she decided she no longer was going to eat meat and was trying out for a very competitive level of hockey.
Afton had her first serious low and I ended up calling 911 as she had convulsions. I was terrified....the medics arrived withen 5 minutes-but those were the longest 5 minutes of my life. She was fine after a few hours...they gave her glucose intravenus and she came around quickly.
After much research I discovered that she needs much less insulin as a vegetarian(not vegan she loves cheese and milk) I test her a lot more as she has nightime lows after exersize. I pulled her away from competitive hockey as my feeling is it wasn't nessesary that she play at that level and she is ok with it as she can still play indoor soccer as well.
Anyway....your story touched me as I feel the same way as your do about your precious daughter. The low really scared me and I have since practiced with the glucogon and cake mate. She clenched her teeth(with braces) during her low and since it was our first I have to admit I did panic.
All is well now and we stay close. My husband has never worked quite as close with her diabetes management-I think he is almost afraid of it but he tries and knows what to do with a low.
Take care
Kathy B
Good luck with your daughter
I understand what you meant about your boy....I love my two boys to pieces but when they were toddlers they were very very active......still are but in a good way. One son is studying to be a Paramedic and the other is in 3rd year Conservation Enforcement in Alberta!!!!
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