Madelyn

From Katie, Madelyn’s mom:

Madelyn is an amazing, unstoppable 12 year old girl. She was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 27 months old. She began presenting symptoms after her 2nd birthday, which were missed by all of her doctors. The week leading into her diagnosis we were back and forth to her doctor. I begged for bloodwork to be completed. 1pm we took her to the hospital for bloodwork and then home to rest. She was so weak and exhausted. We thought our baby was dying. 9 hours later Madelyn’s pediatrician called. He said “is your daughter awake please wake her and let me know”. Then he said to take her to the ER immediately. He called ahead to let the Children’s hospital know we were coming. On the way Madelyn was alert and strong talking to us all the way there. When we arrived at the Children’s Hospital, the doctors didn’t realize it was us that the pediatrician called about. They were expecting an unconscious baby in an ambulance.

Madelyn was admitted in diabetic keto acidosis with an A1c of 13.2. Her blood glucose earlier that afternoon was 912 and now was down to 512. It wasn’t until much later did we realize that we almost lost our baby.
Many hurdles over the last 10 years
from:
chasing a toddler to give a needle
Multiple insulin pumps and cgms
Multiple endocrinologists to find the right one
SCHOOL nurses overdosing her
Educating EVERYONE
Fighting with insurance companies
Play dates
Sleep overs
Pools and beaches
Sports
Highs and lows
Sleepless nights
Traveling on a plane (just 2 months after diagnosis)
Visiting endocrinology 4x year
Advocating for safe and fair treatment
To:
Graduating from elementary school
An independent 12 year old that has changed our lives and many around her.

Madelyn’s strength has shown as she takes on every challenge that comes her way. Nothing stops this girl from doing everything that she wants.
Is it easy? No. But Madelyn will take on every hurdle and become stronger than her last challenge. To say we are proud of Madelyn is an understatement! Amazed is a word that we think of when we think of all that Madelyn has accomplished!

10 years is a huge endeavor. Type 1 Diabetes has changed this whole family but not all negative. We learned to work together to be successful.
10 years for Madelyn with this disease has been challenging but not impossible! We will not let T1D hold us back. Every day we pray and hope for a cure!

Madelyn is an amazing, unstoppable 12 year old girl who happens to have Type 1 Diabetes.