Isn't it funny...

You know how they say everything happens for a reason? That sometimes the answer to your prayers isn't exactly the answer you hoped for? I had a big ol' stop-me-in-my-tracks moment when I discovered I was exactly at where I was needed most this weekend.

I had hopes of going to New Jersey to help out at Grace Crop For Autism. I wanted to see some scrappy friends, make some new scrappy friends and help raise money & additional awareness for a very worthy cause. I finally convinced Honey it was a good idea and lined up Chiara to pick me up at the airport in NYC if I couldn't find a flight right into Newark. Sadly, by the time I was able to look seriously at flight schedules, airfare had gone through the roof! I just couldn't justify spending $1000+ on a three-day trip. : (

It's such a good thing that I didn't go because my nephew Bobby was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes Friday morning! I would have been sick if I'd been so far away when this happened.

Bobby, his dad (my brother Russ) and my mom came to Omaha to meet with Dr. Corley, a pediatric endocrinologist at UNMC specializing in diabetes care after a glucose test revealed that his blood sugar was over 350--fasting. (My meter simply read "HIGH" the day before when I tested him which meant that it was somewhere above 500. WAY TOO HIGH!!!) The lab tests also told them that he was spilling ketones, which can be common in such a high reading. When Ketoacidosis is involved there isn't a lot of time to mess around--the doctors in Pawnee City sent him immediately to UNMC. I checked Dr. Corley's credentials with my own endocrinologist, Dr. Larsen, and was finally convinced that he was the best doc in town when she said "Becca, he's the best. If he were my own kid, Corley's who I'd have him see."

I spent a few hours crying over his diagnosis. As much as I know this is a maintainable disease, that it isn't a death sentence, I also know that insulin is not a cure for diabetes. And while I try to make it seem like it's not that big of a deal, it really is. I called the JDRF Office and cried to Melissa. In fact, while I was on the phone with her I realized that that very day--March 29th--was my seventh anniversary of being diagnosed with the disease. Oooooohhh...you can believe I really fell apart then! On my way to the hospital, I stopped by Honey's work and cried some more--I'd never really gone through this with someone from the very beginning before, other than my brother Randy. And I was just six when he was diagnosed. And let me tell you this: I have never been as concerned for myself as I was for that little nine-year-old boy.

All the way to the hospital I kept thinking and praying. Would he be able to be brave and take this disease on? Would he run and hide and cry each time he had to get his finger pricked or every time he got an insulin injection? Would my brother--a single dad--be able to administer his shots for him? What if...what if...what if... As I sat in the lobby of UNMC, I wondered and tried not to cry because I didn't want Bobby to know just how scared I was.

Well--I shouldn't have worried. When the three of them walked into the hospital, Bobby flashed me one of his always-present smiles. He ran up to give me a hug and said "Twice in two days!" [that we get to see one another.] He held my hand as we walked to the information desk. After a short wild goose chase that led us from the hospital to a clinic nearby with a couple stops in between and then back to the hospital, he was finally admitted. We walked upstairs and right to his room. Nurses swooped in, a resident checked the notes on his chart and phlebotomists drew blood. (Totally tough cookie, I might add. I was on the other side of the bed trying to get him to squeeze my hand and to talk to him when the poke came but he chose to watch the action. When the blood drew back he asked "Is that my blood? Cool." A volunteer stopped in to find out if he liked video games and then asked if he preferred Game Cube or PS2. They rolled a Game Cube in, he picked out a couple of games, two books and a deck of UNO cards. They brought him some water and a menu for dinner and each fell in love with the cute little freckle-faced kid in 6224.

He drank a LOT and he went to the bathroom a LOT on Friday--I think he had more than four liters of water between the time they brought him to his room at 4:00, until Mom and I left that night at about 11:00! He ate well and took his shots without any problems. He was especially excited that he was able to order a cookie--out of all the choices he had, he selected Oatmeal Raisin. Not chocolate chip. Not sugar. Not even peanut butter but Oatmeal Raisin. : ) And most importantly he responded well to the insulin--his blood sugar dropped from 727 when he arrived to 104 two hours after he ate!!!

On Saturday we met with Dr. Corley for the first time. Corley, a diabetic who also wears an insulin pump, manages most of the cases of pediatric diabetes in the entire state. He was very smart and explained each step in layman's terms. He encouraged Russ to start giving the injections as soon as possible and even gave Bobby some of the responsibilty of his maintenance. The diabetic educator/dietitian (who is coincidentally on my team as well) spent several hours in the room, explaining how to give injections, how to carb count, what foods are 'free' and about a million other things that pertain to the disease. She asked questions, answered questions and let Bobby's dad, mom and grandma each draw a syringe full of saline so they could experience it firsthand. Russ gave Bobby his first shot just after lunch and we went back to work.

Bobby was released from the hospital early Sunday evening after he ate dinner and Lisa (his mom) gave him his insulin. I've only talked to Russ three times since then--and each time, he called just to make certain he was doing the right thing. (And each time, he was right on the money.) With this diagnosis I've been given a new label as well: Dr. Auntie! : ) It makes me feel good to be able to answer their questions--plus it's given me yet another reason to be so proactive with my own health. Bobby's doing great & is actually looking forward to doing his own injections one of these days. I was invited to go on his field trip tomorrow to the State Capitol building--I don't think I've been since I was in fourth grade, so I'm really looking forward to that, too! : )

You know, hindsight is always 20/20. As bummed as I was that I couldn't attend the Grace Crop, I know I was where I was meant to be at that very moment. Isn't it funny how we can wish and hope and pray for what we believe our heart's desire and in the end, thank God for unanswered prayers? I'm so thankful for outrageous airfare because that stopped me from being gone when I was needed right here at home.