Hi I’m Leona and my little boy Freddie was diagnosed with T1D at just 10 months old. A week after we had tested positive for covid Freddie became unwell extremely quickly. It was 15th April 2022 - Good Friday, which was ironic as this turned out to be the worst day of our lives. A phone call to 111 after an episode of vomiting and Freddie seemingly spaced out, sleepy and completely not himself had an ambulance at our front door within 10 minutes. Freddie actually perked up slightly when they arrived and I felt that I had overreacted making the phone call. However a finger prick to test his blood glucose showed his levels were too high to read on their monitor and we were taken in to the hospital as a precaution to be checked over. We weren’t blue lighted there and I felt like things had been played down somewhat. The journey was calm and I fully expected to be back home within a couple of hours. What happened next will haunt me forever. As soon as the we walked through the door and the paramedic explained the situation to the nurse we were immediately taken to a side room and seen by someone there and then. Freddie deteriorated very quickly. He was sleepy and limp and the nurses were clearly slightly panicking. After many unsuccessful attempts to insert a cannula I was told they would need to drill into his shin in order to get some fluids into his body. They said I could wait outside whilst it was done as it wasn’t a very nice procedure. This just wasn’t an option for me, how could I leave my tiny little boy alone on a hospital bed because I couldn’t handle watching what was being done to him? The procedure was carried out quickly and he was so out of it he barely even flinched at the sound. He was still going downhill fast and the decision was made to make a “crash call” a button was pressed outside the room and within minutes there were 8 consultants surrounding us, all trying to get blood out of him and fluid into him. A lady then turned up for me. I had no idea who she was or why she was there for me. There was nothing wrong with me they just needed to help my baby. I later realised she was there as a support as they were concerned that Freddie might not make it. We were taken to intensive care and a doctor confirmed a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. I had no idea what this meant and spent hours that night scouring the internet for every piece of information I could find. It was all extremely overwhelming, life as we knew it was no more. I was his Mum but I suddenly found myself feeling like I didn’t know how to look after him any more. We spent 10 days in hospital where we were taught how to count carbs and inject our baby. I was terrified that I was going to let him down. He bounced back extremely quickly and I was completely in awe of how he was taking all of this in his stride. During those early days of diagnosis it’s so hard to imagine how you are going to navigate normal life again. But you can and you do. Things might take a lot more planning and background work but children with type 1 are just as capable as those without. We are 18 months into this journey and I’m so proud of how far we have come as a whole family. Freddie really is the bravest, strongest and most resilient child and I am sure this diagnosis will never hold him back.
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