Life Changes in a split second!

camaros · June 2011

be strong dude... sounds like you have a gem of a daughter

Suziemay · June 2011

Stay strong, thoughts and prayers for your daughter. Bret Michaels is a Type 1 diabetic: http://www.diabetes.org/news-research/n ... haels.html

Didn't stop him from doing, well, anything

dwhite76 · June 2011

my daughter was diagnosed when she was 4. She is turning 14 in 12 days. I know a lot about this disease and would love to help in any way possible.

Your daughter is going to go through what they call a "Honey Moon stage" Which means her pancreas will still create its own insulin at times.

Trust me I know these stage is the hardest. But hang in there it will get better. When she is a little bit olde and has had the disease under control as much as possible, Your daughter can get on an insulin pump.

The pump gives insulin through out the whole day. You only have to dial up (add insulin) when you eat. But there will be no more needles.

Ask your doctor to write a prescription for as many test strips as possible. Because you will go through them like crazy in the beginning.

Remember, You can NEVER test enough

Please contact me. Me and my wife are experts now. Good luck

dwhite76 · June 2011

DS1119 wrote:

I don't have any experience with diabetes but I do know it's manageable and medicine is always moving forward. Good luck to you and your daughter.

Trust me manageable to a 4 year old just dont exist. It does get better but as a parent and thinking to the future if some catastrophe happens and we loose computers or the ability to get our hands on insulin. That is never manageable.

I know you mean well in your post and Im not starting a debate but untill you are going threw it the word manageable takes on new meaning.

dwhite76 · June 2011

Bluehoon wrote:

She did great this morning taking the finger prick and shot, it still hurts me, cause when she says the shot doesnt hurt but the finger prick does I believe her.
Thank You for all the support
Kevin Wright

Kevin ask your diabetes doctor to give you a "Free Style Meter" This way she can test on her arm and wont need to test her finger. It hurts a ton less. Ask the person that will be stopping by and she will confirm and help you with this.

Most doctors office will give you for free as many meters as you need. If you need any extra because your doctor wont just let me know what one you use and Im sure I can send you another meter. We have a bunch of different brands.

SH · June 2011

I agree - test, test, test. It's vital to know where her blood glucose is at given how active kids at that age are. Testing rarely hurts for me. Practice on yourself if you can. I know that test strips are expensive but it's good to know what it feels like. Do the same think with the insulin needle (minus the insulin of course!). I still stab my husband on occasion

Planning is key. I look at how my sister has to handle taking her peanut allergy 2 year old out of the house and realize that it's very similar for me. I have to always know when, where and what I will eat. It can be frustrating but you get used to it.

I'm a Type 1.5 (autoimmune) and fully recommend a pump when she's more stable. Every version is improving drastically and you can now get a pump integrated with a CGMS (Continuous Glucose Monitoring System).

You will be learning at warp speed over the coming months. Keep doing what you're doing, reach out. There are a lot of resources out there and some great messages boards.

PilateOfTheStorm · June 2011

i'm sorry to hear this, my thoughts go out to your daughter and you and your family.
i have two friends as well as some relatives with diabetes, and while it does hand them some rough times they get through it and live happy lives, just like everyone else. and it's because of the positive attitude, the great attitude that you have too, that made them strong enough to beat diabetes and stop it from taking control.

wishing you strength, sending lots of good vibes and thoughts to your family and your daughter

Katyz · June 2011

Another thought...which you probably have had already....make sure all involved in her care, including school knows all about this. The school nurse should be given full documentation from the doctor and all teachers who have responsibility for her MUST be made a ware of the situation. I know this is ALL you are thinking about now, but schools have so many children, you must advocate for them and make sure all is being taken care of there. We had the Child Life team come in from the hospital when my son started back at school, but we had to make sure everything was carried out properly. It wan't alway the case.
Sorry to post such a 'back to basics' post, but sometimes parents don't realize when they are caught in the middle of this whole new world that this stuff has to be done. I'd rather state what you already know than not say it and you not know...you know what I mean.

Katy xxx

dwhite76 · June 2011

Katyz wrote:

Another thought...which you probably have had already....make sure all involved in her care, including school knows all about this. The school nurse should be given full documentation from the doctor and all teachers who have responsibility for her MUST be made a ware of the situation. I know this is ALL you are thinking about now, but schools have so many children, you must advocate for them and make sure all is being taken care of there. We had the Child Life team come in from the hospital when my son started back at school, but we had to make sure everything was carried out properly. It wan't alway the case.
Sorry to post such a 'back to basics' post, but sometimes parents don't realize when they are caught in the middle of this whole new world that this stuff has to be done. I'd rather state what you already know than not say it and you not know...you know what I mean.

Katy xxx

Yes Great point. The schools will not touch your daughter unless you have the doctor sign and fax every step of the care. Meaning she will have to go to the nurse every 2-4 hours and before and after lunch to be tested. Some nurses are great and will come down to the class if its permitted but not usually.

Plus stay on the nurse. A lot of them have no idea how to deal with diabetes and are not on top of their game. So make sure to stay on top of them.

Loulou · June 2011

Your daughter sounds like a little trooper. What a brave little girl!

Bluehoon · June 2011

Update, This morning Ava and I woke up to get ready for school. She help clean her finger and picked what finger she wanted done. After we tested her sugar levels, she helped clean the area where we were giving her the shot. Being only 4 she is my hero, we have only been doing this for about 5 days now and she gets it. I can't imagine being so strong at such an earlier age. I know we are going to have a long haul with this and we will have good days and bad days.

Thanks for all the love and support!

Thanks
Kevin Wright

blondieblue227 · June 2011

kids are amazing.

jjflash · June 2011

Hey Kevin:

This article was in my morning paper and made me think about you and your daughter. It's a little regionally specific; however, there are some good points on how the girl, who is now eight, lives a healthy and normal life. There's also a video in the link below that your daughter may enjoy watching. My prayers go out to you and your family.

http://blog.al.com/living-news/2011/06/ ... vocat.html

vc23 · June 2011

Kevin, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your daughter. Being a father of a 3 year old little girl, I now can understand and feel the pain you must being going through. It drives me crazy when my daughter just has the cold. It is that crushing to see your little girl going through any type of pain. I guess that is why I try not to take any moment with her for granted. Thanks for sharing your story.

Dru_Cortez · June 2011

Loulou wrote:

Your daughter sounds like a little trooper. What a brave little girl!

Agreed, wholeheartedly.
I've spent the AM reading about
hockey riots,
senseless violence,
+ regular people losing
their sense of self-respect
amid the mobs of jerks + morons.
To read something like this...
it really makes all that
other stuff dwindle away.
My thoughts + prayers are with your daughter,
+ with your family.
Cheers.

PJPixie · June 2011

Such great support here on the Pit.
I'm a type 1 Diabetic. Diagnosed as a kid and now I'm almost 42.
Sounds like your little girl is a trooper, and you sound like you're doing pretty good with the whole thing too.
Stay positive, even if you're scared. Don't let her see you scared.
I remember my step mom telling me "you don't have a disease, you have a disorder" and that helped me grasp things a bit better.
I can remember how sick and thirsty I felt right before I was diagnosed and I also remember how much better I felt immediately after I was started on insulin. She's probably feeling so much better now. She is completely correct in saying that the finger pricks hurt more than the insulin injections.
I'm on an insulin pump, a few people have mentioned it here. I've been on mine for about 17 years now and I wouldn't ever give it back. I think in time it would be a good idea for your daughter to consider an insulin pump, but I think for now, learn what she is going thru, learn how her body reacts to insulin, learn how her body reacts to different foods with insulin, learn how her body reacts to food, insulin and exercise.......the variables are endless but stay positive for her. Teach how important it is to keep the best control possible. There will be high blood sugars that might be disappointing or discouraging, try to spin it into a learning thing.... just learn from them. Think about what she ate, how much insulin she had, any exercise?? Try not to get discouraged. I'm sending you and her and your family good vibes. Feel free to PM me anytime!!

~Tiffany

GivenToLukinKP · June 2011

Keeping Ava and your family in my thoughts---she sounds like a strong willed awesome little girl!

brianlux · June 2011

Good thoughts going up for Ava. Good show, dad.

PJaddicted · June 2011

Close friends of mine had their 13 year old son diagnosed back in November. It's been a roller coaster ride of emotions for them. Their son seems to be handling it fine, but for the parents it's been heartbreaking. One day at a time, hugs to your daughter and you. ox

Bluehoon · June 2011

I just want to Thank the Pearl Jam Community from the bottom of my heart. All these stories I have been reading gives me hope that my little one will be able to live a long life and be able todo what ever she sets out todo. Dan I will be giving you a call when things settle down here. It would be nice to be able to talk to another father that has dealt with the same thing. I haven't mention to Ava nor will I that she will be getting mail. I went to her school today before lunch to do the finger pricking and insulin shot. Sugar was (299). I had a moment to just sit and watch her play with her friends at the playground and it brought happy tears to my eyes to see her playing like a 4year old without a care in the world, running,playing, swinging. Then when I went over to get her a little girl says why is your daddy here, she says I have to get my shot before lunch. Then Ava says I have the Diabetes!

Thank You
Kevin

Life Changes in a split second!

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