At age 8, Chris was having on and off stomach aches. We got a note from school to have his eyes checked because he wasn't seeing right. To no avail the eye doctor said his eyesight was fine. Then about right before his 9th Birthday he started showing signs of more frequent stomach aches, and frequent urination. His thirst was insatiable , but as soon as he drank he had to urinate again. He was very tired also. His symptoms seemed to abate a bit. On his 9th Birthday I called his pediatrician and told him of his symptoms and he told me to bring him in immediately. The doctor said it could only be one thing, and a simple urine sample in the office would confirm the diagnosis. His urine tested positive for sugar. He was directed to the endocrinologist down the hallway immediately. As we had prior diabetic training with his Grandmother he did not have to be hospitalized, but he had a blood sugar that day of over 1000. It was a world wind day for all of us. We attended diabetes training classes at Helwig Diabetes Center in The lehigh Valley Hospital. We thank God for their support and Chris is now on a insulin pump and a healthy 24 year old, with no signs of diabetic damage to his eyes, feet or body systems. In retrospect the signs were there, just not all the time at one time.

Shelly Kilpatrick
Coopersburg, PA