Delbin has Type 1 Diabetes

My oldest son Delbin, who is only 11, had been having headaches for the past couple days and we took him into the doctor on Friday. They took his blood, did some other tests and noticed he had lost 7 pounds since his last visit. They called that night to say his tests showed unusually high glucose levels (in the 700 range) so possible diabetes. They told us to take him to the ER that is at the hospital across the river from us so they could do more tests. My husband took him and I have been home with the other kids. They transferred him to the Doernbecher Children's Hospital at OHSU in Portland to get check ups with a Pediatric Endocrinologist (He actually saw one of my daughter, Tatiana's doctors.) and he has been there with my husband ever since. Late Friday night I got word from my husband, Brian. The doctors said Delbin should have been comatose with the levels he had. He wasn't really acting that sick to me, but I am glad we got it checked out when we did. They gave him saline solution through an IV and slowly his levels lowered to within the 400 range.

Saturday I got word that his glucose levels were back to normal in the 100 range. The doctors had diagnosed my son, Delbin with type 1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes) and he has been getting insulin before every meal. They were taking out the IV as I was on the phone with my husband that day. I was so relieved that Delbin was OK.

I feel as if I should get an honorary nurses degree/license after all that I have been through with health issues in my family. My daughter, Tatiana, had all sorts of diagnoses because of a resected brain tumor and passed because of lobar pneumonia in April of 2010. My husband has a rare condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) that he just came down with around May of this year and is now being treated with medications for it...and now my oldest son has Type 1 Diabetes. All these things just came on so suddenly and without warning. I guess it is true that "Life Happens". My family has been through a lot, but I also feel that there is nothing that is dished out that I can't handle. Like I said in my post about my miscarriage I had August of 2009, these things only make me stronger.

At this time Delbin hasn't been released from the hospital. I am hopeful that I can learn as I did with my daughter, Tatiana, to take care of him and make sure that he gets the best care possible. This might actually be a blessing for him, because he could use more responsibility. I am hoping he sees this the same way as I do and in time prospers with the knowledge that this disease will not ever defeat him!

Do you know of anyone with this diagnoses? How are they dealing with it? Please share your experiences, thoughts, recipes for healthy Diabetes friendly foods, etc.! Thank you!

Blanket and Quilt Charities For Children

My daughter, Tatiana, was so very blessed while she was on this Earth with us and we were very blessed to have her as long as we did. Over and over she was showered with gifts from various charities and organizations. Among them were the people that made quilts and blankets for her and her siblings. Tatiana spent a lot of her time at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon and the majority of the time she was greeted to her room with a handmade, homemade treasure to have while she was in the hospital and to take home with her. I want to thank everyone who volunteer and contribute their time and effort into making these and other lovely items for children who are in need of some comfort. I know that my daughter appreciated every one of these beautiful expressions of love and compassion and so did I.

I recently received an email from Better Homes and Gardens about P&Gs Downy Touch of Comfort Program that partnerships with and benefits Quilts For Kids, because I am a member of Better Homes and Gardens Reader Panel. You can help donate 10,000 comforting, handmade quilts to hospitalized children. When you purchase specially marked Downy with the quilted label, 5¢ goes to Downy's charity partner, Quilts For Kids. You can even make a Downy Touch of Comfort Heart Quilt with this free pattern.

This email reminded me of the many blankets and quilts my family has received from organizations like Quilts For Kids. I wanted to list them here too because I am grateful. Click on the links to learn more about them:

♥Project Linus♥ See Tatiana with one of her Project Linus quilts.
♥Love Quilts♥ See Tatiana with her Love Quilt.
♥Binky Patrol♥ See Tati and her siblings with their Binky Patrol blankets.

If you are a quilter or a blanket maker and would like to donate your talents to one of these wonderful organizations please consider doing so! They need your help! Thanks!

OHSU New Emergency Room for Kids Only

A while back Tatiana was at the ER at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon and they were filming for the new emergency room for kids that had just opened. We had been brought back to the new wing and were waiting for a room to open up. They asked me if it was alright to film her and I said sure. I signed a waiver and they started filming. She was there at the ER because she is medically involved and like many times before she had an episode of throwing up which we could not explain.

It was interesting because they made the ER for kids ocean themed and my husband, Brain, and I love dolphins and whales :) It was as if it was made just for us because Tatiana has been in a out of the ER so much. They have neat jelly fish lights hanging from the ceiling above the big check in desk, a sea creature on the floors outside each room, waves on the doors of the rooms, and other sea decor.

I was wondering when I was ever going to see the footage of what they shot when I ran across it today. Go to the link here and click on the image to begin the tour. Here are some clipped images from the video. If you don't know, Tatiana is my daughter with very red hair and she is the very first little kid you see in the video :) I am also in the video in my brown jacket. You can see me in the third picture standing at the foot of Tatiana's hospital bed.

While you are there you can also register to receive a free gift from the hospital. Gift includes a Portland Aerial Tram ticket, sidewalk chalk and a Doernbecher eco-backpack!