Our son Lukas is a beautiful boy whose smile lights up the room. I will never forget the day he was diagnosed and as I recall that day, I can't believe I was oblivious to the series of events that led up to his diagnosis.
Flash back to the first few weeks of October. Lukas had just turned 3. I was pregnant with my third child and my oldest son had just started kindergarten. My parents were visiting from Hawaii... and Lukas was sick. Yes, he was sick but not like he had the flu or anything. He had a really bad cough and a runny nose, what seemed like your typical cold. Lukas' cold seemed to resolve itself on hits own and he seemed to be feeling better although he had no appetite. We were out to lunch one day with my parents and Lukas wouldn't eat anything. All he wanted to do was drink. Matter of fact that was all he was doing for a couple of days. My parents went home to Hawaii and we continued with our normal lives. I took Luke for his 3 year check up and told the doctor that I didn't want to give him any shots because he was sick a few days prior and still didn't seem right. She was fine with that. The next few days, I noticed Luke still was persistent about not eating. I was lucky if he ate anything at all in a full day. He was constantly asking for something to drink and peeing a lot. I just thought he didn't want anything to eat because he didn't have his appetite back after being sick. and I thought he wanted to continue to drink so much because maybe his throat was dry and irritated from all the coughing. I also thought he was peeing so much because he was drinking so much, naturally. Not once did I think there was anything wrong with him other than resolving a cold. One day we went out to lunch with a few friends. Lukas ordered his favorite: Chicken nuggets, French fries, and chocolate milk. Within a minute of him getting the milk, it was gone and he asked for another. My husband ordered him another. He asked to go to the bathroom, and when he got back, he finished the second milk. Our friends laughed, because they didn't have kids at the time so we thought it was funny as well...I guess. The next day, we had dinner at the grandparent's house and Luke continued with his non-compliance to eat, and was persisitent to drink. My mother in law, a nurse, and grandmother, also a nurse both thought something was up and asked how long this had been going on. I said about a week and they said "you better keep an eye on it." I immediately had panic in me, I said "why?" And they very calmly told me just to be sure it wasn't something serious and if it doesn't get better to call the pediatirician. That night I went straight to the computer and googled extreme thirst and frequent urination. Everything came back with type 1 diabetes, my eyes flooded with tears. I thought, no way. It can't be. We don't have diabetes in our family history, ANYWHERE! So its not possible.
The next day, a friend of mine said Luke didn't look good and his face looked sunken in and like he lost weight. I told her about what I had read online and she told me I should call the doctor. So I did. They told me I needed to bring him in immediately, that day. I hung up and again my eyes flooded with tears. My first thoughts were that I could never prick my son's fingers, and I definitely would never be able to give him shots.
That evening my husband came home from work early and we took Luke to the pediatrician. My stomach was in knots, I couldn't handle sitting in the waiting room, it was killing me. I had all sorts of crazy thoughts running through my head. I kept telling myself, he's just going to have some weird infection or he's just going through some weird 3 year old phase. Then a few moments later I hear "Lukas." It was time.
We get to the exam room where they tell us he will need to pee in a cup. Luke had no problem with that....then more waiting, and then it happened.
Enter the Doctor, "Hi, I'm sorry but Lukas has sugar in his urine which means he may have type 1 diabetes.... blah blah blah blah....you need to go to the hospital." I began to cry. This couldn't be right. Something was wrong with their test. Can't we see someone else tomorrow? The hospital? how bad could this be? I didn't know what to make of this. I felt like there was nothing I could do for my son. This was such a shock to us. The entire car ride to the hospital I sobbed. My poor 5 year old Charlie, was in the car just string at me. I wasn't sure what he was thinking of all of this and he must have been so confused and scared. Then my little Charlie said something to me I will never forget. "It's ok Mommy, Peter ___ has diabetes and he's fine." I still get teary eyed thinking of that moment.
A few moments later we arrived at the hospital where Luke was admitted to the ER, the worst night of both of our lives thus far. It was a painful night for Luke physically, and emotionally for me. The first blood test they did on Luke said his blood glucose was 680. I had no idea what that meant. I asked the nurse she said it should be under 200. I later learned a normal individuals BG is about 90. I could not believe it was that high. That night we were stuck in a room with 4 other children with various sicknesses in it. I was not comfortable, I hated it, I was pregnant, my son was hysterical. This was a nightmare. Different nurses and doctors kept coming in poking him, it was ridiculous. And every time someone would come in, they would say "I'm so sorry," and what did that do to me? Make me hysterical. Did I mention I was pregnant, hello emotional wreck!! Through out the night they would wake Luke to be check his blood and give him insulin injections. It was a rough night to say the least.The next morning I woke up to an Pediatric Endocrinologist who probably needed to be re- trained in bedside manner. I was literally asleep. She pulled the curtain open and started blabbing about diabetes. One of the first things out of her mouth was "Don't worry, your son will have a normal life." I thought ok, good. But then she says "except, he probably wont be able to fly a plane, or be a police officer or join the military..." I was like, huh? Seriously?! Not the first thing I want to hear. That my 3 year old will not be able to do these things as an adult. It was so bizarre. From that point on more and more people came. We had to meet with social workers, nutritionists, nurse educators, as well as deal with the shift changes of the regular hospital workers. That very first day in the hospital was the most overwhelming day of my life. Now may I remind you, the previous night, I had left my house thinking I was going to see the pediatrician, I had no idea we would have been admitted to the hospital. I had not had anything to eat, I did not shower and I was exhausted. I had no time to absorb what was happening, no time to even think about what this meant, I hadn't even had a chance to talk to my mother. My husband arrived at the hospital after getting my son to school. I looked at him and he knew I had to get out of there. I know it sounds bad, but I needed to. So we did a switch. I planned to go home, shower, and eat something. He would stay with Luke and speak with the nurse educator this time. On the way home I called my mom to break the news, she couldn't believe it, no one could! I cried my eyes out to her then I had a moment of realization. I told myself "Jen, this is it. This is not about you and how sad you are and what you have to deal with now. You need to snap out of it. Get back to the hospital, learn how to do this so you can bring your son home." And that is exactly what I did.
Back at the hospital, my husband and I learned to prick his finger to check his blood glucose. We learned how to give him injections. We learned how to correct his Blood glucose when it was too high. We learned how to add carbohydrates and convert them into the correct amount of insulin to give Luke. And we learned how to choose low carb foods for him to eat. It was a lot, this had become a 24 hour a day job for us. We are so thankful it wasn't something worse. This is something manageable....but it still is scary.
Today Lukas is 4 1/2. He will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall. He has had type 1 diabetes for a year and a half. Lukas has come a long way and his diabetes is under control and we are thankful for the advancements in technology that help us keep him healthy.
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