In 2005, I was a carefree 13 YO kid. I had very few worries and was happy with my life. In early December of that year, some friends and I decided to take a walk through some woods. The woods were split into two parts and my chubby 13 YO self decided to give up about half way through because it was hot and I was tired. My friends convinced me and so began the 2nd worst afternoon in my life. About 20 feet into the second woods we stumbled onto a Yellow Jacket nest and I got stung over 100 times. Besides being very sore and traumatized, I was fine and given steroids to heal.
Fast forward to early February 2006. I’m super excited because my birthday is on Saturday and I get to have a party on my actual birthday! Except I didn’t. The whole week leading up to my birthday I was constantly thirsty, had to pee all the time, and even started wetting the bed, and about mid-way through the week I started throwing up anything I ate. My father got home from a fishing trip on Friday and took me to the Dr. It was here that I had the worst afternoon of my life. I was told I was diabetic and that I was going to spend my birthday in the hospital. All my 13 YO self could think about was how I wasn’t going to get any cake.
I spent 5 days in St Mary’s Children’s Hospital (I also missed the FCAT writing test. I got a 6 on the makeup test though so YAY!) The doctors think that the steroids I was given to heal effectively killed my already dieing pancreas. I still feel bad for the poor nurse that I scared by breaking into hysterics when he said “It’ll only feel like a little bee sting.” Poor guy.
But here I am now, approaching my 10 year Dia-versary. I hope there’s cake.
Gaffney, SC
