by Karla Jones
My
name is Karla Jones. I am originally from Sweetwater, Texas, now living just
outside of Roby, Texas. I am the mother of two diabetic children, now young
adults, Paul and Kevin Egly.
My youngest son, Kevin, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in September 1986, at the age of two. The boys’ grandpa had died the previous year after living with diabetes since his early 40s. He would never know his two grandsons had inherited both his disease and his ear for music.
Just before his diagnosis, Kevin would soak his diaper, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not get enough to eat or drink. He had weight loss and a diaper rash we could not explain, and ringworm all over his arms and legs. At that time, I did not know a whole lot about diabetes. I knew something was wrong, but what?
Then one September morning, I could not get Kevin to fully waken. His bed was soaked from one end to the other. He had broken out into a cold sweat, and had very little response to my voice or touch. I took him to see our family physician, who had also been Kevin’s grandpa’s physician. While waiting for the doctor, I noticed Kevin’s color changing; he became pale and limp. I knew we could wait no longer and requested immediate attention. Our doctor quickly diagnosed him with type 1 diabetes and ketoacidosis.
His blood sugar registered at 309. Still unresponsive, Kevin was sent to a hospital in Abilene, Texas, to be treated by a diabetic specialist. He was put on an insulin drip IV, and for several days, family and friends were praying hard for him. As a young mother I had a lot of questions in my mind and emotions in my heart. I was overwhelmed, and did not know how I could take care of Kevin.
Little by little, Kevin came around. During his hospital stay, we had dietitians, nurses, and our doctor teach us about insulin and glucose monitors. It was all new to me, and I didn’t think I could do any of it, but with careful direction, I gave Kevin his first insulin injection.
When Kevin was discharged from the hospital, my oldest son, Paul, then four, was glad to have his little brother home. Even though we were all a little scared, we began fitting a normal life in around insulin shots, monitoring diet, and frequent blood sugar checks. It wasn’t long before Paul and Kevin were back to their old routine of beating on laundry baskets for drums and playing air guitar. There was no convincing them they didn’t have a real rock’n roll band.
Raising a toddler with diabetes was not easy. Kevin was unable to tell us when his blood sugar was dropping, and it was hard to make him understand the importance of proper meals. There were many trips to the E.R. Luckily for Kevin, his brother Paul helped when he could. He would run to get orange juice, candy, and sweets when Kevin was low. At four years old, Paul learned more about diabetes than most adults know.
Kevin entered school, and we worked closely with the staff to keep him healthy. Paul and Kevin were as close as brothers could be, and Paul always looked after Kevin. They still played their music together, but now they were learning on real instruments. Everyone was amazed at their talent. We didn’t know it then, but they were developing dreams for their future.
Then I began to notice a weight loss in Paul, when he was ten years old. He had frequent trips to the bathroom, and was drinking a lot of fluids. He had ringworm all over his body. I knew the symptoms all too well; it was diabetes. I was scared. Were we prepared for this again?
Our worst fears were confirmed by the doctor. As Paul sat waiting to see the doctor, he remembered all Kevin’s emergency room trips, the insulin injections, and the blood sugar testing. It was more than he could bear. When the doctor told him the news, he said, in a scared young boy’s voice, “No! I’m not going to be a diabetic!” Then he jumped up and ran out the door. We followed quickly behind. The doctor told Paul, “Paul, I wished you didn’t have diabetes, but it’s something you’ll have to live with, and you can live it.”
I guess the years of dealing with Kevin had taught us all well. Paul did a good job with his diabetes. Knowing what to expect made all the difference in the world.
My boys are now 21 and 23, and managing their diabetes on their own. They are pursuing their musical dreams and living an active life. All that banging and pretending has advanced into a real career. One of the first songs Kevin recorded was written about his life with diabetes.
As for me, I count my blessings in my boys, and am thankful they have goals and dreams in their life, that they are not letting the hardships of diabetes get in their way. We have found out, it’s the love you have inside that gets you through.