Did You Know That Children Die At School?

This week Adalyne and her Mom were invited to have lunch with the AZ State Government. In AZ, school nurses are on the chopping block. Addy must be medically monitored while she attends school. Wendy and Addy were invited to help her state representatives promote the need for school nurses in public schools. It was a big job for one little girl whose needs are very great.

Children with diabetes, celiac disease, asthma, seizures, allergies, bleeding disorders, cancer, and other medical problems have a right to a public school education. Who is going to monitor these children if there is no school nurse? I was a school nurse for eight years. Believe me, I used very few bandaids. My time was spent caring for children who required professional nursing care due to injury and chronic illness. Choking and head injury are both major risks. I know. I can give you a list of parents who are very grateful because a school nurse was available to quickly react, assess and literally save the life of their child or save them from permanent disability. It is the school nurse who advocates for your child when they attend school. Whether they need medication to concentrate, insulin to live, or albuterol to breathe, it is the school nurse who is on guard duty. It is not an easy job. When I was a school nurse, my malpractice insurance premium was higher than when I practiced acute nursing. Your school system may not know this, but their insurance company does.

Adalyne's life should not be jeopardized in order to attend school. It is a federal law that she receives a quality public school education. To all parents I say, if your child falls and hits their head during recess, who do you want to assess your child? A professional nurse or an educator? It makes no difference if your child is injured or if your child requires monitoring, a school nurse can make the difference between death or permanent disability. Kids die or suffer permanent injury at schools everyday. Keep that in mind when your sweet one gets on the school bus. Keep that in mind when your school system decides that school nurses are too expensive for your school budget. Your childs life may be at risk if your local school system makes the wrong decision.

Sorry, Smith Medical

New information has come to light. Business profit was not the reason that Smith Medical bowed out of the insulin pump business. Therefore, I owe this company an apology. It seems that one company was trying to develop a monopoly on the insulin pump market. At this time, at least for this moment, perhaps it has failed.

Thank you Smith Medical for your work and support of my little diabetic. You really took a hit trying to protect Max. Max has been unique and wonderful. Bless you.

This is the Picture of Childhood Type 1 Diabetes

One picture says a thousand words. Every day I give thanks for the technology that allows Adalyne to live. Around this tiny waist, she weighs 45 pounds, is an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor. Each is inserted into this tiny tummy by a needle which must be changed 2-3 times a week. Each is worn in a "pump pack" attached to Addy for 24 hours of every day. See, she has two. Now I ask, what happens when one company holds all the keys to the many locks that fuel the diabetes business profit? Will research continue and allow new innovations? Or, will what is, be all that there is? Will research be curbed by fear of litigation? What does the future hold for Addy? Is this all there is and all that will ever be? Will Addy ever become detached from "Max and Nav?" In the world of diabetes, I will continue to have the "audacity of hope."

The big car company's are too big to fail. What happens to small company's that keep little diabetics alive? Yes, diabetes kills. In this very uncertain time, I place my trust in God. I place Adalyne in His hands. Then, I will continue to do what I have always done, pray feverishly for a cure and AFA...ADVOCATE FOR ADDY! Adalyne's life and all others with this "blasted disease" count! This world belongs to them, too. Adalyne Erin has big dreams. I want her to live. And, I want her to run free from cannula's, pumps and needles!