Jessi's Story

My story started when my “birthday twin” uncle was diagnosed with diabetes on May 1st 2012 at the age of 7. I was always intrigued about it and always jumped at the chance to help him with his diabetes and learn more about it. I would help him check his blood, give him shots, etc. A few years later when we were both in 6th grade I went on a trip to Mexico with my Grandma. I started feeling a little different while I was in Mexico. I was drinking a lot of liquids, but still seemed so thirsty. I was exhausted all the time, and I got bad headaches a lot, but I didn’t think anything of it. I was in Mexico, in the heat, running around all day. Soon, I got back from my trip to Mexico and my parents noticed I was losing hair and weight fast. I started waking up from the most awful calf cramps. My parents were a little nervous, so they decided to make a doctor appointment for me. So now, the day is April 28th, 2017 and I have a doctor appointment. I soon learned that it would be the first time I got my blood drawn, and neither of my parents were even there. Luckily, I had my Grandma there with me. I had a little checkup appointment and everything looked fine. I seemed like a normal healthy kid, but my doctor thought she would have me get a blood draw just in case. I then went back to school like any normal day. I was in class when “the call” came. I got called down to the office, where my Aunt and another EA were standing waiting for me and met me with hugs and love. At that point, I just got more nervous. All that was running through my head was “Am I sick? Am I going to be ok? What did they figure out at my appointment?” Soon my mom came up and what she said has stuck with me ever since. She said “Jessi they think you might have diabetes.” And that’s when I got even more scared. I’m a dancer...was I not going to be able to dance? We soon made it to the Hospital in Albany where I was brought back pretty fast. I had a couple different tests I had to do, which was when we figured out my blood sugar was 616 at the time of my blood draw. As I was getting transferred to an ambulance hospital bed, I realized I knew the driver of the ambulance that was driving me to the other hospital. He was my 2nd grade teacher’s son. I went up to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland Oregon, and when I got there I was so scared about what was happening to me. I mean, I knew what diabetes was but I never imagined it would happen to me, but all of those thoughts went away when I was greeted by nurses who told me that I did absolutely nothing wrong. I knew that, but it was just so reassuring. Everyone at the hospital was just so kind and helpful, and I got out so soon. While I was in the hospital I saw a baby who had a disease, and it made me realize how lucky I truly was to just have diabetes, and to have all the people who helped me through everything. I’m now 15 and have had type 1 diabetes for 3 years. Above all never forget who you have and how much they love you, because they will be behind you forever.

Jessi Baney