D-Day

365 days x 7 per day = 2,555

5 months x 30 days x 5 per day = 750

(7 months x 30 days)/3.5 days = 60

That's 2,555 finger pokes and blood tests, 750 syringe shots, and 60 pump site changes.  Those are all averages and don't include when things aren't going perfect.   

Let's not forget the doctor's visits (weekly for the first month, monthly for a couple months, now every 3 months), 2 hospitalizations (1 when diagnosed, 1 due to a common virus).  Many phone calls from the nurse at school for various reasons. Many, many sleepless nights, and even more interrupted nights of sleep. 

Today, however, we celebrate.  We celebrate the struggles that we have overcome, we celebrate the time and energy devoted to this disease, we celebrate US being in control.  Mostly, we celebrate life.  My son's life depends on all of those finger pokes.  His life depends on me having broken sleep because of 1 or 2 am blood sugar checks.  His life depends on the extra time and effort I put into packing his lunch everyday, weighing his food, and making sure he has his supplies for the day.   His life depends on an electronic device attached to him 24 hours a day 7 days a week.  Let's not forget though, that he has life.   

To outsiders he is just like any other 7 year old boy.  He goes to friends houses, he swims, he eats cake, candy, pasta, and all the other foods that a 7 year old would eat.  He rides his bike, plays video games, and occasionally annoys his brothers. He gives us hugs and kisses and many smiles.  He makes me laugh and he makes me smile. 

Not once has he complained about having diabetes. Not once has he complained about the constant pricking or having to carry around his "kit."   He complains about having to take showers and about not being able to sleep in mom & dad's bed.  He complains about not being able to play video games during the week and about having to clean up after himself. He complains about stuff that a 7 year old complains about.

So today, in celebration of D-Day (diagnosis day), it's all about him.  He is going to eat ice cream and candy and have chocolate cereal for lunch.  We are ordering pancakes and milkshakes for dinner. He will receive insulin to cover the carbs and we will control his blood sugars.  Today, he will enjoy being a kid and celebrating everything that he as accomplished.   

Other than right now, I will try not to think about what I was going through 1 year ago today.  I will try not to shed tears.  I will try not to remember standing in the shower praying to a God that I don't talk with often, praying that my fears are not true.  The doctor will not confirm diabetes, but something else random, something that can be fixed.  I will try not to remember the look on my son's face as we tell him he needs to go to the hospital right now and that he will be there for a few days.   I will try not to remember the hurt that my heart felt for him on this day 1 year ago.

Brosnan Pelton May 30, 2014

The strongest kid I know.

I hope that one day there will be a cure for diabetes, but until that day, we will control it, it does not control us.