Arden Describes a Low Blood Glucose Seizure
I had the camera out for something unrelated when Arden suddenly began to talk about a seizure that she experienced over a year before this was recorded.
Arden is three and half years old in this video, it's both heartbreaking and fascinating when you realize that she has a clear recollection of much of the event. Even more interesting is how she interprets the information. Hearing Arden describe the grunting noises that she made as her "turning into a monster" is particularly chilling.
Arden was temporarily blind and unable to speak during the seizure that she is describing. We were able to stop it in a few minutes with glucose gel.
Added 2015:
That was Arden then, this is Arden now. She is healthy, active and about as far from that little girl in the video as you can imagine.
I'm revisiting this post as a part of my podcast journey to relive Arden's Day from the beginning. Remembering the way that Arden's account of a low BG seizure (I've seen two and refuse to call them 'incidents') makes me realize why it took me so long to act boldly with insulin. I'm quite certain that as I move forward with this process of reliving the blog, I'm going to find that getting a Dexcom CGM is what allowed me to bolus with certainty while striving for closer to normal blood glucose readings.
Please don't use this video as a reason to be scared or a way to convince yourself that fear is a righteous endeavor when living with type 1. Please watch young Arden and remember that while this was once our reality, it no longer is.
I desperately want your take-away to be...
They did it and so can we!
New Video Arden Speaks
I had our video camera out the other day. I intended on making a short video that would show what Arden’s finger sticks and injections look like. But I’ll have to get back to that idea another day. Because that afternoon Arden took her nap two full hours sooner then she normally does. Because Arden’s Blood Glucose drops rapidly during her afternoon nap I tested her at exactly one hour and forty minutes after the injection. (She never naps that early - ahhh).
Her BG was 78 and the NovoLog was really starting to work at 100%. I woke her up, and narrowly avoided a seizure (she got as low as 24).
When all was well she began to talk about her last seizure... And I was able to turn the video camera back on without her noticing. I have to say that it’s an altering experience to hear Arden explain what happens to her when she seizes. Links below.
The video is on our site here
On YouTube here
And in a larger format here to view or download (QuickTime).
Please let me know what you think.
Well... that was horrible!
Arden wants to have a ‘Princess Party’ this July to celebrate her fourth birthday. She tells people about it whenever she gets the chance. Recently, we became aware that she was also telling people that her diabetes was going away on her birthday.
Sunday afternoon Kelly and I sat down with her to explain that wouldn’t happen. She cried when we told her but not like a child cries, more like an adult that has just learned of a death. It made me realize that Arden is going through even more then I had imagined.
It was one of the worst moments of my life. Which at this point is really saying something.
We don’t know where she got the idea that her diabetes was going to go away. I find myself hoping that another child told her or that she misunderstood something that she heard. Because if that was her birthday wish... That may just be more then I could deal with.
Please consider making a charitable donation the JDRF today.
Good News, A Story and Art... oh my.
Arden had her quarterly Endocrinologist appointment today. Her hemoglobin A1C was steady at 8.2! She also has gained some weight, which made everyone very happy. We discussed the leg cramps that arise when her BG is too high but mainly went over her care to ensure that we are doing everything we can as well as we can.
We have received another generous gift for Arden to auction! This one is really great. A HomePrint from Bucks County artist Celeste Accardi. You really have to take a look if you are a proud home owner, need a house warming gift or have those parents that you just can’t think of a gift for anymore. Celeste creates a beautiful piece of art from a photograph of your home. Please take a peek! Celeste is spectacularly talented, I think you all will be fighting over this one! Follow the Arden’s Auction links for all of the details.
Lastly, a lot of people have asked us “how we knew” Arden had diabetes. I’ve avoided answering as it is an unpleasant memory to call up. Today for some reason I felt like I could do it. So for those of you that are interested, I’ve tried to tell the story as best as I can. You can follow the link at the top of the page or the one located here.
Thank you for being a part of making Arden’s Day more hopeful!
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