In November of 2005, our 12 year old son became sick.  Believing he once again had strep throat, we went to the doctor on the Fri. before Thanksgiving.  At his weigh-in upon arrival, the nurse says he's lost 23 pounds since his last visit 3 months prior.  The pediatrician tests,  then announces that he doesn't have strep, he's got a virus and he just needs to eat and proceeds to tell Caleb that "if you don't start eating, you'll have to go to the hospital and get needles put into you."

Fast forward to Tuesday of the next week.  We're at lunch & Caleb's head "thuds" on the table.  He can't hold it up - he says he's just tired, he hasn't eaten much, he just needs to sleep.  I made a vital error:  I ignored my gut and instead heeded the doctor's words that "it's just a virus." 

I'm at work the following day.  Caleb and his sister are home and their Dad is at work.  Caleb calls me.  He's crying.  "Momma, something really, really wrong.  Please take me to the hospital.  I don't care what they have to do, just please take me.  I am so sick."  I called the doctor on the way home and she says he needs to come back to her office or maybe he just needs to rest???  This time, I ignore the doctor and heed my gut by going straight to the ER. 

2 hours later Caleb is in the ER at Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta.  The triage nurse checks his sugar upon hearing his symptoms.  She calls me to the counter and quietly asks "do you know anything about blood sugar?" and I shook my head.  She says "Mom, this is critical - his blood sugar is 963, we're taking him to ICU."



(Caleb, Thanksgiving Day 2005 in Scottish Rite)

That's it.  Once sentence.  Just a few words.  Caleb's life - our whole family's lives - had been turned upside down.  

Suddenly, what we could come to refer to as our "carefree " lives changed...they were now filled with doctors,  nurses, syringes, vials, needles, medical jargon up one side and down the other, carb counting, proteins, blood sugars, pharmacies, you name it.  Any sense of "normal" had left us.   

Caleb was admitted to ICU where a host of nurses and specialists poked, prodded and educated over the next several days.  We are told on Thanksgiving Day that Caleb has Type 1 Diabetes and his pancreas has stopped producing insulin. 

We learned a lot during this frightening time:  (1) Don't overlook your gut instincts; (2) Listen to your child; (3) You are your child's ONLY advocate; and (4) There are many people who are right there with you, and they care.

The first Crop Out Diabetes was held in Covington, Georgia in May of 2006.  In 2007, we added Wisconsin; in 2008, we were in Georgia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Arizona and Missouri.  We are in the planning stages for February 2009.  If you are interested in coordinating an event in your area, please contact me.

Tina Jackson, Founder
Crop Out Diabetes