Emily was brought into the emergency room because she vomited. We had been wondering what could be wrong because she seemed so tired. She said she couldn't burp. She had gone home one day from complaining of a tummy ache but it was my husbands day off so we thought she had missed him. So many of us parents who have lost children find out on their first visit to the emergency room that their child has diabetic ketoacidosis. Some don't even make it that far. There is what is called "dead in bed syndrome." When her blood test came back it was in the 300's and to them that was lower than many children who are brought in with their first diagnosis of juvenile type 1 diabetes. It can also be called "early onset." Right away we were sent up to Boston. Emily's initial x- ray didn't show pneumonia but she developed it and may have been treated too late. Things worsened after she said her last words ever to us. She survived CPR and open heart surgery after what felt like forever and they debated on putting her what is called an eckmo machine. It pumps the heart so she could rest. They kept her temperature low for fear of brain swelling and eventually, after a blood transfusion, a profusionist and two nurses watching her overnight, something happened again. The cardiologist was called to come in and the debated on lifting her to put a new gel pad under her. The brain and heart specialists argued over this and it was never done. Her eyes that had looked okay before were dialated. Her brain had swelled. The fight was over. I lost it. All parents need to know that a simple blood test if your child seems really tired, thirsty, complains of a tummy ache, and no- she had no fever! Bring your child to get a simple blood test. It doesn't run in the family! Type one doesn't have to do with weight. Emily was getting thinner. We thought she was growing. Please don't wait.

Laura Anne Crowell Swartz
Plymouth, MA