A New Chapter for Connor

Connor w/his new pump!

On Thursday (1/06) I took my six year old son Connor to Anchorage to get his new insulin pump set up and started. It was a big day, and while excited, both of us were nervous. He was worried it would hurt and I was nervous about a change to the carefully managed way we had been doing things since he was three. We had his Hemoglobin A1C perfect and were doing really well with the daily injections. Still, going from sometimes ten shots a day, down to one every three days is a huge improvement.

When the nurse finally got to the part where we insert the infusion set, Connor got a little pale and I was shaking a little. If this part hurt, then he could just refuse the whole thing, then we go back and I knew we would be better off pressing forward with this. The tighter control of blood sugars with the wonderful bonus of more freedom with his diet. How could we turn back? Imagine my relief when he giggled and said it tickled, when the needle went in, and came out, leaving the soft cannula behind. Whew!

So, we had the weekend to get used to it and do our first site change on Sunday and that went well too. I am so excited for him. He says he loves it and has named it Pumpy. Monday is his first day back at school and I am going in with him so I can prep the nurse and his teacher. I hope this is easier for everyone and not going to scare them. I have my fingers crossed!

The Joy and the Struggle

I am up too late, after packing for a short trip I am about to take my son on. My six year old, redheaded, type I diabetic son. His life is about to get easier, thanks to qualifying for Denali Kidcare, and his doctors approving his request for an insulin pump. Specifically, an amazing one from Animas. It's bittersweet, because I had a pump at one time, but due to lack of support in the small town where I was at, I had a malfunction with the pump that nearly killed me. I kept the darn thing... I'm not sure why, until this summer. I looked at my husband and said, "Just throw it away I guess." Then I found out I could have turned it in for a new one. My heart broke. An insulin pump would give me so much better control, and to go through it with Connor would have been so great. Guess you can't cry over what has been done.

Insulin pumps are crazy expensive. Even when I looked at refurbished ones, the cheapest still came to over $900. Maybe, if we aren't in dire straights again when the next PFD comes around, I could get one. But then, I always find that the kids need something, or bills need to be paid. I wish medical care wasn't so expensive. I wish insurance companies were more affordable and didn't shut out those of us with pre-existing conditions.

So, later today, my son will hopefully start a new chapter, that will give him near perfect control that will add years to his life and prevent any complications. My hope for him, is that his life will draw a little closer to normal and he won't feel so left out when there are special foods during celebrations, or have to compromise and decide whether or not a treat is worth getting a shot. I hope even more, that we will be able to prevent the low blood sugars that robbed me of much of my sight. This is huge and I wish everyone with type I diabetes, all kids and mothers who have this unfair disease could have a pump. It should be standard after proving ability to properly utilize it.

So, wish us luck. This is a huge step. I am a little scared, but so much more excited... and envious. Maybe someday, a pump of my own will be within my grasp.