Dexcom: 1st Grader

Around 9 am, I sat down at the computer to create a poster sized collage using the CGM pics I collected from the DOC.  I was excited to see them all together on one big page, and started the upload process smiling from ear to ear with anticipation.

But then one upload failed.  And another.

And a scattered few more.

And I logged out.

Logged in.

Started over.

Tried again.

I was running out of time.  I needed to have it done by 12:40 since I was scheduled to talk to all the 1st graders at Sugar's school, and help to answer their questions about "that funny looking thing" they see on her arm from time to time.

Eventually I decided I'd have to settle with what I could get uploaded and move on.

So I created my collage, and paid online.

As I was scheduling my pick up, I realized that I couldn't mosey up to the store closest to me.  I'd have to drive about 30 minutes instead.

A quick glance at the clock revealed that I'd need to pack up the 3 preschoolers in my care, throw together bagged lunches for them, and have them eat on the way to the store.  If every light, road project, and speed limit sign cooperated, I had enough time to make it there and back without a second to spare.

So off we went!

AND....when I got there, they didn't have the order.

Great.

I turned around to drive my brood back to school and called my local store on the way.  I begged and pleaded with the nice photo guy, and he gladly agreed to get me an 8x10 collage as soon as I could get the order entered.

Drop of preschoolers.

Home to place emergency order.

Drive to store.

Wait in line.

Hustle back to the school.

Sign in.

Scatter to the room, only to find three 1st grade classes sitting patiently, waiting for Mrs. Rose (WHO IS THAT?) to arrive. (Someone tell that lady to get her act together, would ya?)

All eyes were on ME.

Smile.

My girl was sitting at the front of the room, and she hadn't seen all the pictures before.  I walked in, and handed the collage to her....

And she was flabbergasted.

"Who are these people, Mommy?" she whispered in my ear.
I kissed her cheek and whispered back, "Well, they're some friends who wanted to show you that you aren't alone, because they wear a CGM too."

She held that picture...staring at each smile, touching the sensor images, and laughing at some of the funny faces.  For a few minutes she was suspended in her own little world.

Meanwhile, I talked to the kids about Dexcom and started fielding questions:

"Can you catch diabetes?"
"How did she get diabetes?"
"Can she go swimming with that on her arm?"
"What if the sticker falls off in the pool?"
"Can't you just jump in the water with her (reaches high over his head), hold Dexcom up out of the water, and follow her around the pool so it doesn't get wet?"  (gotta love 1st graders!)
"What would happen if she didn't go to the nurse?"
"Does it hurt when you put those things on her?"
"Does it hurt when she pokes her finger?"
"What will happen if her blood sugar is zero?"
"What will happen if her blood sugar is too high?"
"Can she come to my birthday party?"

-- and my personal favorite --

"Well, I'm not really sure this is a question.  I saw a commercial and it said that kids over 50 years old could call a phone number and they would send you the supplies to make diabetes go away."{cheers erupt from the room full of kids.}

Oh, my sweet, tender-hearted, little friends.

If only that were true.

Thank You

Here's the other half of the picture I posted of Sugar the other day.

You see, she has a strong local support system.

She knows she's not alone.

But she feels alone when she's only one in her class wearing a Dexcom.

The one beeping in the middle of a math test.

The one who misses part of recess because she has to go to the nurse.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the outpouring of supportive comments I received after my last post.  Each one means so much to me...you guys really do understand the emotions we're dealing with and I genuinely appreciate your kindness.

I tried to bring Dexcom up with her again today.  It's not that I wanted to push her to try it again...more that I just wanted her to talk to me about what had happened at school that made her so upset.

"Mom, I can't talk about it without feeling like I'm going to cry."

WHAT?

She's SEVEN!!!!!!  Nothing in life should be so stinkin' heavy that it evokes such painful emotion.

Dangit.

Anyway, I was telling her that I told my computer friends about how sad she was the other night...and I shared some of the comments with her.  The next thing I knew, she was smiling ear to ear.

Wow.

The DOC lifted her up, just like it's lifted me up a million times before.

Lorraine and Alexis suggested a great idea to help her feel less isolated...but I'll need your help.  I'd like to collect some pictures of people wearing their CGM's (kids and/or adults) to create a scrapbook for her.  I'll also use this collection to show her class that there are many people who wear a CGM and it's nothing they need to be concerned about.  If possible, would you mind writing/having your child write a short note  finishing this statement:

I have diabetes and I am ________________________.

Then take a picture of the note and send it to me with your CGM picture.

candyheartsblog@gmail.com

I'd like to collect all the pictures by Friday, 4/1.

Thank you, my friends.

Seriously.

From the bottom of my Candy Heart,

It Happened.

And it caught me completely off guard.

I mean...I knew we'd talk about this one day...but I didn't expect to be last night.

The adhesive on Sugar's Dexcom sensor (a.k.a her continuous glucose monitor) was wearing out.  I was looking at it before bed, and trying to decide if it would make it through another night.

Out of the blue she said that it was bothering her...and then she started to cry.

Spring is in full swing here and summer is coming fast.  The long sleeved wardrobe has been packed away, and the drawers are full of bright colors, spring dresses, and short sleeved clothes.  She began wearing Dexcom in December (under long sleeves), and we've found her arm to be the most accurate placement for the sensor.

Can you see where this is going?

"MOMMY...they keep asking what Dexcom is, and I just don't know what to say."
"They were laughing at me."
"It beeped during class and disturbed everyone.  I was so embarrassed."

Oh, my heart ached.

Her tears were so big.

And then it was me who just didn't know what to say.  All I could do was hold her and tell her that we'll figure it out.

We agreed that she'd keep it in until morning so I could double check the basal changes I had been tweaking for the past few nights.

Then we took it out this morning.

And I don't know when we'll be putting it in again.

If technology enhances her life, I'll go to the ends of the earth to make it accessible to her and learn whatever I have to learn to manage it.

But if it becomes a burden....

Then I guess I won't.

P.S.  You can read a heartwarming follow up HERE.