Then There Were 2!

Diagnoses that is....We were home for a few days when the phone call came.  "Hello?" I answered.  The doctor on the other end explained that Andrew's gluten antibody number was very high - 134 to be exact.  With a normal level being <20, I knew this wasn't good. 

We had to wait a couple of weeks for an appointment with the gastroenterologist.  The doctor gave us the option to redo the bloodwork because sometimes when diabetics are just diagnosed, it can falsely raise the antibodies.  Our other choice was to go straight to the intestinal biopsy.  As my husband and I discussed the two options, we decided to do the biopsy.  I had done a lot of research on the internet and found that there is a strong connection between type1 diabetes and celiac disease.

As we walked into the prep room for the biopsy, I was trying everything I could do to keep back my tears.  We have been through so much already with the diabetes and the thought of putting my baby to sleep was enough to put me over the edge.  The first person we were introduced to gave me an extremely uneasy feeling.  I tried to brush it off and then he opened his mouth.  Yes, I was right, this person is
T-R-O-U-B-L-E!  First when he asked what medications Andrew was taking, I told him Novolog.  "Novolog", he said, "What's that?"  I felt like saying, "Insulin, you moron!"  I had told the hospital that Andrew was just diagnosed with diabetes when we scheduled his biopsy.  This man then started to just rip me apart!  He wanted to know why I gave him his nighttime Levemir and that his doses should have been adjusted.  I told him that the gastro. dept. didn't tell me adjust it.  He then proceeded to tell me that it was MY responsibility to contact the endo. department.  At this point, tears start pouring out!  Now I'm sad AND mad because I was able to hold myself together until this IDIOT starts picking a fight with me.  We have just been diagnosed in the past two weeks with diabetes and we don't even have an endo. at this point, just the one that saw us in the hospital!   Needless to say, we told the nurse that he better not step foot back into our room again.

As we wheeled Andrew into the procedure room, I actually had great peace.  God carried me when I couldn't.  I knew that Andrew was in God's hands as he softly drifted asleep.

When the doctor approached us after the procedure, he presented some pictures of Andrew's stomach and intestines.  I actually found it to be quite fascinating.  I guess primarily because I'm his mom.LOL  He thought that it might be wise for me to start checking out some gluten free websites.  At that very point, I knew that everything was just going to change yet again.  As for Andrew, I actually eased him into the diagnosis.  As I learned things, I shared them with him. 

As you can see, our lives have truly been turned upside down.  Through faith and love, we will all prevail...Not individually, but as a FAMILY.  I welcome you all to follow our journey and become a part of our family.

How It All Started

Can I have a drink?????

  That was the question frequently asked by our 8 year son Andrew. When it came down to getting him a couple glasses of water before bedtime, I knew something was up.  I guess you could call it "mother's intuition".  I prefer to call it a nudge from the Holy Spirit because God was definitely keeping watch over our son that November evening, 2011.

Due to having hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), I keep a glucometer on hand for myself.  I told my husband that we should at least check his sugars before he goes to bed.  It definitely wasn't the easiest task, but we finally were able to prick his finger.  5..4..3..2..1.  Those 5 seconds seemed like an eternity!  The results showed up at 545!  I remember thinking this couldn't be right.  So I grabbed the glucometer and did mine.  5..4..3..2..1.  Results 90.  I grabbed Andrew's finger one more time.  He must have known something was not right because he didn't even fight me.  This time, the results were HIGH!  I remember thinking, "What does high mean?"  I knew it couldn't be good.  By the look on my face, my husband said, "Is that bad?"  I just shook my head yes and ran for the phone.

That's when it all started - The mad rush to the hospital, nurses and doctor's using our son as a human pin cushion, insulin injections, IV insertion.  This was just the beginning.  Thankfully Andrew did not have ketones in his urine which can be a very serious situation with diabetics. We endured three grueling days of diabetes education, learning how to give insulin injections, nutrition education etc...  The hardest thing to get through was our poor son sitting on the bed just crying because he couldn't understand why all of this was happening to him and how much he missed being at home with his siblings.  As much as I just wanted to break down, God lifted me up and gave me unbelievable strength to help Andrew cope with this new diagnosis.  My head was absolutely spinning from the diagnosis itself and how to care for Andrew.  It's like I went into my own little world.  My husband also leaned on God for strength; however, we grieved in different ways.

After sulking awhile, I knew I had a decision.  I could either crawl in a hole and ignore everything or I could face this beast head on.  Andrew eased into his new lifestyle and I knew that's what I needed to do too.  That's how we've become the Diabetic and Celiac WARRIORS!!!