When Kay was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, I thought I had a decent grasp on how to manage it—enough to get by and keep her safe. But as time went on, I found myself feeling defeated, frustrated, and overwhelmed. I was calling the endocrinologist sometimes weekly, desperate for guidance—hoping for advice on what…
Over the last few months, there have been several staff changes at the therapy center Kay has been attending since she was about six months old. Unfortunately, that included the departure of both her speech and occupational therapists. As a result, Kay now only sees her physical therapist weekly and occasionally receives speech therapy—only if…
Kay recently had her routine checkup with her endocrinologist — and this visit included an A1C test! If you’re not familiar with diabetes, you might be wondering: what exactly is A1C? A1C is a blood test that reflects the average blood sugar levels over the past three months. It gives a much broader picture than…
Kay kicked off her first day of Extended School Year (ESY), and I’m so thankful that this program is available! She absolutely loves school — it’s clear that she thrives on the routine, structure, and social interaction it brings. The moment we arrived, Kay was all smiles, eagerly running up to each teacher and staff…
Kay and I recently had the chance to attend a new program at GiGi’s Playhouse called Destination Discovery—and we had such a great time! This fun and relaxed program is all about learning through purposeful play. It’s designed to support a wide range of skills in kids, including fine and gross motor development, social interaction,…
Two weeks ago, we found ourselves walking into yet another specialist’s office—this time, hematology. During a routine blood draw, Kay’s labs came back with a slightly elevated platelet count of 658. Given everything Kay already manages daily with Type 1 Diabetes—the finger pokes, the CGM changes, the insulin dosing—her pediatrician made a compassionate decision. Rather…
Kay and I had the best time during our very first GiGi FIT Preschool session at GiGi’s Playhouse! From the moment we walked in, the energy was high, and Kay lit up seeing familiar faces—and meeting some new ones too. One of my favorite touches was that even the littlest participants got their very own…
On Thursday, we headed to GiGi’s Playhouse for TheraPlay, one of the many amazing programs they offer! This was our very first time attending, and it was such a great experience. TheraPlay blends occupational therapy activities with free play—something Kay absolutely loved! What made this visit even more special was that Maeve, Kay’s diabetic alert…
June 6th marked a monumental day in our household — Kay’s 1-year diaversary. While some may not see this as a day to celebrate, we do. Because one year ago, our lives changed forever. This date marks the beginning of a journey that reshaped how we eat, sleep, play, travel, and think. Every decision became…
Kay and I had another special visit from our local news station—Fox 5! It was such a memorable morning filming at home, and this time, Maeve and her trainer joined us for the interview! I’m incredibly grateful to both Fox 5 and Diabetic Alert Dogs of America for continuing to share our story, and to…
