Cordelia

From her mom, Alecia:

August 18, 2014. I had just finished working a 12 hour graveyard shift. I crawled into bed at 8:30 am and my phone rang, it was daycare. “Cordelia’s really pale and not breathing right.”
I quickly drove to daycare and took one look at my little girl and knew we were headed to urgent care.

At the doctor’s office she vomited and we went to change in the bathroom. The doctor sent us next door for chest x-rays. They wanted to rule out pneumonia with her labored breathing. 4 hours later I have a baby girl laying in my arms like a rag doll. The doctor came in and told me her lungs were clear and they aren’t sure what is wrong. “We are going to check her blood sugar before you go to the Hospital.”

The staff came in took her blood glucose and left. 20 minutes later, (and what seemed like eternity) the doctor came in “her blood sugar is slightly elevated. We are sending you to the hospital for some fluids.” I ask “what is it?” She responded “436.” I grab our stuff and leave immediately.

On the way to the hospital I called my sister. She lived close so she insisted I stop by and pick her up so she can be there for support.

We get to the hospital and we’re taken to triage immediately. The nurse asked “did she vomited on you?” As she was taking vitals. “Yes” was my reply.

“Did the doctors office take a blood sugar?” She inquired. “Yes. It was 436.”

The nurse carried my daughter down the hall yelling “We have a DKA! We have a DKA!”

I followed. On the verge of tears, but somehow my gut already knew.

Before I could bring my baby was on a gurney with 7 nurses, doctors, and aids trying to get an IV.

“How long has she been diabetic?” The doctor asked. That question still rings in my head.

Diabetic? She just turned one year old. She has only been one for 18 days! How can this be happening?

The next six days in the hospital were a whirlwind of education, worry, love ,and support from friends and family.

We have had many ups and downs, happy and sad, but we have family as support. Cordelia has since helped other kids understand their new diagnosis and helped her classmates understand too. She loves camping, riding bikes, playing, and being artistic (music, drawing, etc.). Nothing will stand in her way. She amazes me every day with her confidence and resilience.