Our son at 5 1/2 years old , our son Jack , got very sick. I kept taking him to the Doctors insisting something was wrong. The only things the Doctors could figure out was he had strep throat. With in a week, he lost severe amount of weight and was urinating and drinking A LOT!. I brought him back to the doctors and told them, "I think he has diabetes?". They said no and said it was his allergies making him drink a lot and told me to get blood work the next morning. With in a couple of hours after the doctors visit, Jack urinated 11 times in 15-20 minutes time span. My husband was on his way home and I told him Jack needs to go to the ER... I swear he has diabetes. As soon as he came home, he drove him to the hospital and shortly after I got the devastating phone call......"JACK HAS TYPE 1 DIABETES.".
I was shocked. How can this be????? Why my son? I prayed every night, that he will have a long HEALTHY life..... why was this happening??? Our hearts were broken, we were so scared for what we had found out.
I knew nothing about Diabetes...just that old people got it...right??? WRONG.... there are 2 types of Diabetes. One is when you are older called type 2 and one that has become extremely common in children and young adults...TYPE 1 Diabetes. This is what Jack has, Type 1 Diabetes.
Each year, more than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults – approximately 80 people per day – are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the U.S.
Jack's body has fought off all his insulin producing cells and no longer can produce insulin on his own. He must test his sugar levels anywhere from 7 -10 times a day. he must inject insulin into his body by needle or by wearing an insulin pump 24 hours a day. If his sugar levels go too low, he will become unconscious.
If his sugar levels go too high after a long period of time, he can have many complications later in life. This includes, kidney disease, eye disease, amputations and a coma. Children and young adults have died from this disease due to the complications or the lack of affordability of the insulin and supplies they need. We FEAR these complications every day and pray every day that he will never experience them.
This is why we walk with JDRF. They use the money we raise for research in finding his cure. They also research what can make his life better for today as we still look for his cure. The progress they have made in this disease has been amazing from where they were at 20 years ago.
Please join us in fighting for our son and the many children fighting this disease. Walk with us Sunday October 2 at Seaside Heights and help us raise money for his cure.
We thank you all for your love and support!!!!
