Leah Herbeck

From her mom, Darcy:

My daughter Leah was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes 2/16/2014 at the age of 12. What an overwhelming experience it has been. She honestly cheated death, according to the ER doctor she was about 48 hours from having seizures and possibly going into a diabetic coma. Her blood sugar count was 1025 when diagnosed. It took 8 hours to bring her sugar levels down; mind you not to normal range but down to the point a meter would read the levels. She looked like a walking skeleton due to all the weight she had lost because her body was not able to use sugar to fuel her mind and body. Weeks and possibly months prior to being diagnosed Leah was not using energy properly, which affected her brain activity and her ability to think; too much sugar turned toxic and caused havoc with her body and mind. You might say she doesn’t remember much about that time because she was barely living. We had to take a crash course in all things diabetic; Shots, shots, shots, pokes, pokes, pokes, carb counting, carb counting, carb counting. YUCK! Shots hurt, pokes hurt counting carbs sucks, and blood testing is not fun.

Leah like many other diabetics was not diagnosed ‘till it was almost too late. She was a happy healthy 12-year-old who had not been feeling well for months. The doctors assumed she had a virus, and it would run its course. There was no reason to think her illness was diabetes because there was no family history. Testing for diabetes was an extra charge and the doctors did not think the situation warranted the test. It got to the point where she was sleeping all day and did not have enough energy to stand or walk. Thank God they recognized she needed more testing which is how we would up in the hospital with the diagnosis of diabetes.

Finding out how to live and adapt to life with the disease has and is still a challenge. She is known as the “backpack” girl because she is always carrying supplies in a backpack. She must have special provisions in school and at work and other places. Always having to explain why she has “special” provisions. As if being able to stop the clock on a test to test her blood sugar, eat, go to the bathroom, and carry food is something to be jealous of.

Through all the ups, downs, and challenges she has been a fierce warrior. Her mantra is No Limits. She faces challenges, fights hard, and truly lives life with no limits. I am so proud of her and am truly blessed and grateful for who she is and her desire to live life to the fullest.