Callan was 7 when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. She was going to the restroom a lot which was not normal for her at all. We were at a basketball tournament for her older sister when we first noticed it. I worked at a clinic and discussed the symptoms with her doctor there. She suggested that she come in and have a UA as it could be a UTI but she also said it could be diabetes. I thought there is no way she has diabetes. Boy was I wrong. Her BG was over 300 and when the doctor asked if she had anything to eat and we responded no she immediately stated that we needed to go Lubbock, Texas to be admitted. The tears began to fall and I couldn't believe that our little girl was now going to have to battle a disease for the rest of her life. We were admitted to UMC and received the best pediatric endocrinologist you could ever ask for. She is an amazing doctor. She stated that we caught it extremely early, which was wonderful, and because of that we only stayed in the hospital for 24 hours. But man were we educated in 24 hours with about a months worth of information!!! It was overwhelming and scary. Lots of tears and frustration were shared with our family and our extended family over the next month. But that entire time Callan was a trouper!!! She began to check her sugar and taking the shots like it was nothing. She said I have to do it so there's no point in crying about it. She has said many times, "it's no fair that I have diabetes". She has been on the Medtronic insulin pump now for a full week. She is loving it and adjusting very well. Now I wish we had done it sooner. She is extremely independent with her diabetes and that helps. We participate in the American Diabetes Association Step Out Walk every year, getting involved helps. It will get better, we promise!!!

Jenny Netherland
Sudan, TX