Day 25: Memory of a New Way of Life

It was the third week of June, 2005. Nora had just been released from Cincinnati Children's Medical Hospital after spending a week there. She had been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She was only 4 years old. Her symptoms came on gradually. Nora had walking pneumonia earlier in the year and this kicked started the symptoms. Increased thirst, going to the bathroom...a lot...and the shaky hands and whining for something to eat. Her mom, Jen, had a gut instinct that something was not quite right. She called the Pediatrician and asked to have Nora tested for Juvenile Diabetes. Now Jen had no idea what diabetes really was or why she even asked the Doctor to test for it. She just knew something was wrong with her baby girl. Nora goes to the Doctor and gave a urine sample. The Doctor comes back into the room and apologizes. Nora has sugar in her urine.

What did this mean? 

The Doctor then sent Nora to Children's Anderson Campus for a blood test. She gives her blood sample. Remember, Nora is only 4. She hates "peeing in a cup" and the blood draw about sent her over the edge. Jen promised her a trip to Claire's where she could pick out anything she wanted. By the time they returned home from their trip to Claire's a message was waiting on their phone.

The Doctor's voice saying,

 "I'm sorry your daughter has diabetes".

 Thus began their journey into the world of finger pricks, carb counting, insulin injections, highs/lows...her childhood. They endured about 5 days at the hospital learning their new way of life. Then came the BIG day. She was released to go home. With NO Nurses...or Doctors. Just she and her parents. It was dinner time and they had nothing to eat at home...after all, they'd been at the hospital for 5 days! So they decide to eat out but could they do it? Could they test her blood sugar, count the carbs and deliver an injection...by themselves AND in a resturant?!? Jen started to panic and then swallowed it down...of course they could! She didn't want to do anything different. She didn't want diabetes to change them. Especially since she had told Nora that she could do anything...even with diabetes. So they stop at the local IHOP, order her some baby pancakes (her favorite) and...

SURVIVE!

 They deal with this horrid disease hour by hour, day by day, week by week and unfortunately year by year. This is their new normal...their new way of life. With Diabetes.