When Natalie was 18 months old, we started to have repeated occurrences of diapers leaking. We switched brands a few times, but it kept happening....and seemed to be getting worse. The last week or so before her diagnosis, she was literally soaking her diaper and all the way through her clothes every couple of hours. She was wanting to drink more. Always asking for water and guzzling her milk at mealtimes. We had been down to nursing only 3 times a day, but she was suddenly asking to nurse much more often. She was also sleeping more, but at odd times and not peacefully. She would fall asleep in my arms, but would wake if I laid her down. Her play slowed way down. She just wanted to snuggle and drink and doze. We figured she was coming down with a "bug".
By March 7, we started really seeing her get lethargic. She wouldn't stand up for me while I dressed her - she just wanted to be in our arms or she would lay on the floor at our feet. That was a Friday, so we decided to call her pediatrician Monday morning. Saturday got worse. And Sunday morning I stayed home with her, while Chad and the other kids went to church. As she laid in my arms, half asleep/half awake, I noticed her breath was very sweet smelling. It was like a light bulb going off in my mind! I'm not even sure how I knew it - I really believe God put the pieces together in my mind for me. I did a quick online search for diabetic symptoms. And there it was: frequent urination, constant thirst, and sweet smelling breath. But I still thought, "Naw, can't be, she's too young. I'll call, but they'll just tell me it's something else". A quick text to my hubby, while I waited for the on-call nurse to call me back.
After rattling off all her symptoms to the on-call nurse, I said, "Am I off-base to think diabetes?" To my shock she said, "No. Take her to the ER now!" Another quick text to my hubby before the tears clouded my vision. Then I stood up, turned to set her in the rocker, and she just slumped over! I burst into tears as I ran to dress myself and grab clothes for her (she had already soaked 3 jammies that night and was only in a diaper). Chad found some dear friends at church that were willing to take our other children. As I raced to the hospital, I kept thinking, "I feel sorry for the police officer who pulls me over right now!" - funny, the thoughts that go through your head in panic moments. But we were never pulled over and I don't think we even had more than 1 red light all the way there. When I arrived, Chad had beat us there and was waiting with a parking space all ready for us.
When we walked in the ER, there was a small line at the registration desk. When it was our turn, I didn't notice where all the people in front of us had gone, but I did notice that the triage nurse came out and stood there waiting for us. I hadn't called ahead, and I don't remember telling the nurse on the phone which hospital we were going to. I just keep thinking that the triage nurse saw what a rag doll Natalie was in my arms and she wanted to get her in quickly. Well, quickly is an understatement! We were led immediately into triage, where 2 nurses assessed her, and less than 5 minutes later we were being led to a room. In that room we had 2 nurses and 2 doctors, if I remember correctly - it was quite a whirlwind! They poked her toe and her blood sugar was off the glucose meter! It read 500+ (later we learned that her level was 548).
I cried.
I kept asking, "Does this automatically mean she's diabetic? It can't be something else?". So, less than 10 minutes in the door and she was diagnosed.
One of the nurses said she was from the pediatric floor. We just happen to have a good friend that works in Pediatric ICU. So I quickly asked if she was working. Sure enough she was there! Our nurse called her and she was able to come right down! What a blessing it was to have her there to care for our baby and comfort us! She took us up to the PICU, where Natalie was for 2 days. And then 2 more days in the regular pediatric area.
We continue to see God's grace though all of this. God pieced it all together in my mind. He provided loving friends willing to step in and help us by taking care of our children for the day. And more friends willing to help with the kids during Natalie's hospital stay that week. He got us to the hospital safely and without getting pulled over. He provided Natalie with the quick care she needed. He met our emotional needs by having a friend there for us - it was so comforting when she stopped after putting in Natalie's IV, and said, "This is nothing you've done to Natalie. Her pancreas just stopped working." And the rest if the medical staff in our room harmoniously agreed.
Natalie perked up by the end of day 2 and then began to eat, eat, eat! Before arriving at the hospital I hadn't noticed that Natalie had lost 2-3 pounds, and I never would have guessed that she was dehydrated with as much as she was drinking.
God is Good. He took care of her through this. And while I still cry that Natalie will have Type 1 Diabetes for the rest of her life, I feel so blessed to have seen God at work in our lives every step of the way through this. There are several memories from our hospital stay that are dear to me...Natalie had trouble sleeping the last 2 nights in the hospital, so the nurses gave me a wagon from the Child Life Center. Natalie and I walked the halls, around and around, looking at the murals and clicking our tongues or singing softly. She was so sweet, sitting in her decked out wagon, sipping her water and enjoying the ride. Her little body was exhausted - it had gone through so much - yet sleep would not come - everything was off. And yet, she didn't cry or fuss. She is an amazing, sweet girl!
I hold dearly to the verse we've chosen for Natalie - Pslam 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
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