1 year ago today, KC and I went to a fundraiser for our local Children’s Hospital called “Fantasy of Trees.” It consists of Christmas trees and gingerbread houses created/donated by groups/businesses/schools and individuals which are then sold to the public. It was third year that KC had helped create a tree donated by her school and our first visit to Fantasy of Trees. It was beautiful and festive, but what sticks out for me is that KC was complaining of hunger and thirst, a headache and nausea. No fever, no flu. Less than one month later she was diagnosed with T1DM. In retrospect, I am sure she was experiencing extremely high blood sugar that morning.
We went back to Fantasy of Trees this morning…and as her “diaversary” approaches I am flooded with memories and emotion. But so thankful that her T1 was caught early.
Tomorrow will be her first Thanksgiving since diagnosis and we will begin wrapping up the last of the “firsts”…and I am thankful that she is doing so well. T1 is not without bumps along the way, but we have managed to get through each hurdle.
I am thankful for a loving husband (and doting father), two wonderful children and all of our family. I am thankful for our friends and school community. I am thankful for the DOC and the support I receive from people I’ve never met. I am thankful for our wonderful endocrinologist and his staff. I am thankful for all the medical advances that are keeping my girl alive. I am thankful there are people working to cure this #$%# disease.
As we prepare for tomorrow’s feast, I’ve been preplanning KC’s meal. Thought this might help some of you:
1/3 cup of stuffing is 15 g. of carbs
1 dinner roll (brown and serve type) is 12 g. of carbs
1/3 cup of sweet potato casserole with 1/3 cup of mini marshmallows is 31 g. of carbs
I put the sweet potato casserole in individual ramekins to control portion size.
KC doesn’t like mashed potatos, so no carbs wasted on those for her!
I cheated and bought a frozen pumpkin pie because it has a carb count on it—and got her Cool whip to go on top.
A blessed and joyous Thanksgiving to you all!
KC & Co. 